I woke up and wrestled between the idea of going straight to my computer to continue gathering information and work for BOW A5 submission or else lie in bed for a bit with a cup of coffee and some reading. I chose the latter and the first page I read was extraordinarily relevant – so a good call in the end. I feel a bit like I quote my favourite magazine way too often but it is a rich source and I find it more balanced and informative than most of the academic photo magazines that arrive in the post. It’s not perfect but tends to feel outward looking, whereas the work and articles in the photo mags regularly seem less so. Sometimes NS articles lack rigorous critical thought but overall it aims to report on a wide range of science informed news. However, there’s a sanctimonious tone in the world of academia and art photography that I am not comfortable with – there are those with the unacknowledged privilege of education who seem so scathing of those without, and that really troubles me. It also strikes me as deeply pessimistic and ‘split’ in the analysis sense – people, ideas, problems are either all good or all bad. Nothing in between. I suppose that is what my CS essay is trying to address
I may well use this passage in the submission and even if I don’t, it helps me to understand what I’ve been working towards.