Visual Sociology Project

Project Plan:

‘Cam Era’ – The Perth Panopticon

1.             The Brief (negotiated by the Student and Tutor by e-mail).

The visual sociology topic I have chosen is to investigate is how different types of surveillance function within today’s society within the area of Perth.  My loose aim is to capture or photograph a great variety of different forms of surveillance to enable an analysis and investigation of what is actually happening with surveillance today, this will possibly lead to questions regarding how effective and efficient surveillance is today and weather society has become desensitized or hyposensitised to the effects of surveillance and weather self-policing is a direct effect or not of surveillance or this investigation may possibly lead to the discovery of a whole new phenomenon regarding surveillance.

2.             The Methodological Considerations (data gathering and analysis)

The methodology that will be used for this project is the qualitative approach of grounded theory.  The rationale for this selection is the generality of the topic of Surveillance and the unspecific inquiry of how it functions within society today.  The hope is to achieve a purely inductive investigation to investigate whether any detection and explanation of the social phenomenon of surveillance will reveal any interesting themes with regards to its function.

Data Gathering

The data gathered will be a series of images taken within the subject of surveillance.  Using a grounded theory approach will require that firstly lots of images of any type of surveillance will be taken, this will include technology and people

Time Line

2 days per week will be allotted to gathering images and 1 day per week will be allocated to processing these images and building on theme detection.

This is estimated to be carried out over 3 weeks totalling 6 days.  The days in-between data gathering will allow for the organisation of access from gatekeepers that may be required

Analysis

After three weeks the images gathered so far will be analysed and examined for themes, once some themes are identify they will be split into categories and coded. Then further photographic inquiry will commence until it is felt that a strong case can be presented regarding the themes uncovered.  Once all information has been gathered the coded themes will be collected together and presented in a photographic report posted to a blog that identifies the themes via selected photos to evidence the themes found.

3.             Equipment needs.

For this project I will be using a Cannon IXUS Digital Camera.  No other equipment will be required and bags of charm to gain access to any secure areas that contain surveillance equipment.

4.             Sample considerations.

The sample for my project will be a combination of still objects and people.  Most of the photographs I want to take will be done covertly to capture the true nature of surveillance.  The sample of people will an opportunity sample and consist of persons of all ages and genders within the population of the Perth area.

5.             Ethical Issues to be considered.

          The ethical issues perceived for this investigation fall firstly to the covert nature of the images of people and the issue of consent.  This could possibly be overcome by ensuring that these images are only taken in a public area and possibly from a distance or gaining prior consent and then capturing images at a later unknown date to the participants.

6.             Restraints and Issues expected.

The restraints and issues expected to arise throughout my project are mainly anticipated to be gaining access via gatekeepers to photograph surveillance equipment, the covert nature of photographing people could mean that getting good images that portray punctum and not just studium may be difficult.  Also these issues collide with the ethical ones above. Also regarding methodology the nature of the grounded theory approach may create an abundance of images that will later require categorising due to the very expansive nature of the variety of surveillance imagery I hope to capture.