Visualizing homelessness: a study in photography and estrangement

Abstract

This article reports a qualitative study of how homeless people visualize their life in hostels and on the streets of London. Using a photo-production technique, the research enabled participants to show their situation as well as to tell about their experiences. Participants were given cameras and asked to take photographs typical of their day as homeless people, this material being the subject of a subsequent interview. This provided both visual and text data that were analysed together so as to establish different engagements of the participants with the city and with domiciled people. Presenting the material from six of the participants, these different engagements are described with reference to issues of estrangement, exclusion and visualization employed as explanatory concepts. The article identifies and compares the different ways in which homeless people attempt not only to survive but also to 'make their home' in the city.

Homelessness and identity: a critical review of the literature and theory

“…This does not mean they are 'out-of-the-ordinary'; simply 'out-in-the-open' (Parsell, 2008). 'Fictive storytelling', as Radley et al (2005) claim, is a result of extreme urban exposure rather than an inherent part of a 'homeless identity'. A participant in Radley et al's (2005: 291) study told how she engaged in fantasizing 'because it keeps you alive'.…”

Exploring mobile technologies for the urban homeless

“…The benefits of the PEI method are that it disrupts power dynamics, enabling the participant to retain more control over the interview; it enables deeper reflection on the topic by providing more context and peripheral data; and it provides opportunities for the participant to defamiliarize themselves with familiar aspects of their lives [5,9,22]. This form of study has been used by other researchers outside the HCI context (such as Radley, et al's study of the London homeless population [31]) and was well suited to our study design.…”

“…When comparing homeless and domiciled poor in Madrid, Muñoz et al described traits common to both sides of the Atlantic: low education levels, high unemployment rates, and pervasive mental and physical health problems [27]. Likewise, in a study of the London homeless population, Radley et al addressed the complex relationship homeless individuals have with their urban homes [31]. The multi-faceted causes of homelessness and the complex interaction with the urban environment described by these studies were all present in interactions with our participants.…”

“…For individuals who live day to day, two weeks can see a number of dramatic changes in location, mind set, and health. The Radley et al study of the London homeless population addressed these challenges by limiting camera time to three days and in so doing, capitalized on the initial excitement and momentum generated as participants took up the cameras [31].…”

Media Literacy through photography and participation. A conceptual approach

“…As Killion (2001, p 50) puts it: "a single photograph can contain thousands of references" and we are all capable of making interpretations and creating knowledge by developing a participatory communication perspective, based on dialogic relations for reflection, criticism and inter-subjectivity. In recent years, many studies attest to this, where participatory photography has become a popular tool among researchers, educators and other professionals, especially those working with vulnerable and marginalized groups, to promote social awareness and justice (Aldridge, 2012;Allen, 2012;DeJean, 2008;Guerrero & Tinkler, 2010;Narayan, 2000;Radley, Hodgetts, & Cullen, 2005;Wang, Cash, & Powers, 2000;Ziller, 1990) and in different investigations as a tool for connecting with youth and adolescents: (Ali-Khan & Siry, 2013;Checkoway & Richards-Schuster, 2004;Coronel & Rodríguez, 2013;Hubbard, 1991;Luttrell, 2010;Mizen, 2005;Mizen & Ofosukusi, 2010;Sharples, Davison, Thomas, & Rudman, 2003;Skovdal, 2011;Rabadán, 2014) among others.…”