Fish and Ships

Article and Interview about Esther Johnson's research project 'Ships in the Sky'. The publication includes a centre poster illustrated by Jake Machen which draws on Johnson's research timeline of the life of Hull's former Cooperative Society and later BHS building. Further information on the research can be found here: http://shipsinthesky.weebly.co

Obsession: work by Esther Johnson solo show

To coincide with Ways of Looking, a new festival of photography in Bradford, South Square will be presenting artist filmmaker and photographer Esther Johnson’s Analogue Kingdom. This short film is a poetic portrait of Gerald Wells, founder and curator of the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. Wells’ stole his first radio, a Belmont, in 1943 at the age of thirteen. He was immediately sent to an ‘approved’ school, whose psychiatrist diagnosed ‘an obsession’ with wireless and electricity – an obsession that continues today. The house Wells was born in and still inhabits is now home to over 1,500 wireless objects and 45,000 valves - the UK’s largest such collection. Analogue Kingdom reveals the charm of Wells’ world, where radio relics and their attendant stories fill every nook and cranny. As the digital switchover fast approaches, Wells’ analogue collection is a reminder of the magic that may soon be lost. In addition to Analogue Kingdom, Johnson will exhibit a selection of photography taken at the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum</p

Native voices on Native science: Mohawk perspectives on the concept, practice, and meaning of a knowledge production system rooted in traditional Native thought

Community psychology is strongly committed to the value of cultural relativity and diversity. Acquiring knowledge regarding cultural differences is essential if community psychology is to realize this value. This paper provides a culture specific perspective on the form and meaning of a knowledge system rooted in traditional Mohawk thought. The academic literature regarding research on Native people reveals an ethnocentric description of native reality. My premise is that research in Native communities has been ideologically biased by virtue of the interpretation of native reality from the perspective of mainstream western scientific assumptions. The ability to obtain culturally relevant knowledge hinges on our ability to understand and come to knowledge in a culturally relevant way. Thus, there is a need for a knowledge production system that is rooted in traditional Native thought. Utilizing a qualitative and collaborative approach I obtain the perspectives of five people, who are members of the Mohawk Nation who reside in the Six Nation of the Grand River Community, on the concept of a Native science and a knowledge system rooted in traditional Mohawk thought. The results of the study indicated that there is a high degree of congruity between the generalized Native scientific concepts and practices with Mohawk specific traditional beliefs and practices. The study illuminates Mohawk specific teachings and how these teachings shape the meaning and practice of a knowledge system rooted in traditional Mohawk thought

A Survey of Press Opinions on the Billie Sol Estes Case as Reported Through News Releases

It was the purpose of this study (1) to compare the types of reporting by various newspapers versus periodicals of the facts of the Billie Sol Estes case, and (2) to show that governmental intervention was necessary in the Billie Sol Estes case. Our American society is based on an economic philosophy— the doctrine of laissez faire. This is the economic philosophy generally subscribed to several decades ago. During the past four decades, however, political government has been so busy eliminating monopolies that many people question whether capitalism is the proper designation for our system. Monopolies tend to develop because pure competition is not always practiced. However, there are undertakings in which competition is not socially desirable. To preserve the virtues of the present system, it is essential that no group or combination of groups be permitted to use government for the purpose of regulating prices or control for their own advantage, and to the detriment of the public. A balance of national power arising from and representing all economic groups must be maintained. Therefore, it is even more important that individuals, in the various economic groups and their leaders, be increasingly motivated by a real interest in the economic well-being of all persons who live within the society. Thus, a survey of the press opinions on the Billie Sol Estes case as reported through news releases in regards to interactions, transactions, involvements, and outcome is of significance to our understandings of free enterprise in our capitalistic society

Teenage Wildlife Vidéothèque: Site Gallery 28 June-09 August 2008

The Teenage Wildlife Videotheque surveys the rich source of inspiration film and video artists’ have found within the subject of youth. The short films featured in this self-selection videotheque, range from tales of loneliness and confusion, angst, excess, bad behaviour and empowerment to poetic portraits of how some teenagers like to spend their time and lyrical re-workings of existing footage. The works included span from the 1950s when the term ‘teen’ first became widely used, to the present day. Films by Karel Reisz, Lynne Ramsey, Ridley Scott, Asif Kapadia and Bill Douglas are included alongside artists’ film and video by Martin Arnold, Carol Morley, Andrew Kötting and Cordelia Swann, amongst others. The videotheque has been curated by artist/film-maker, Esther Johnson. Teenage Wildlife Project with Young People: Students from three Sheffield schools – Parkwood High, Abbeydale Grange and Tapton – worked with Esther Johnson to give reviews, both written and on-camera, of a selection of films and videos from the videothéque

Echoes of protest: untold stories of the 1984–1985 UK Miners’ Strike

This journal article will take a look at a collaborative project by artist/filmmaker Esther Johnson and filmmaker/writer Debbie Ballin titled Echoes of Protest. This research investigates the legacy of being involved in significant protest movements from a child’s perspective and seeks to understand the role protest can play in the lives of children, and to explore its aftermath. This article will draw upon oral testimony transcriptions and photography undertaken for this project to highlight a perspective of the 1984-85 UK Miners’ Strike that has seldom been explored. The stories collected are from adults remembering what it was like to grow up as a child during the Strike. They articulate the experience with a maturity they may have been unable to express at the time. The text will follow the research methodology, findings, discuss the editing process and invite contributors to reflect on their participation. Key words archive; cross-disciplinary research; documentary; exhibition; interviewing process; memory; Miners’ Strike; museums; oral testimony; photograph

Challenges in Advanced Dementia

This chapter presents the significant challenges in practice health professionals face in providing care to people with advanced dementia. These challenges constitute all facets of care giving inclusive of physical, psychological and spiritual care. Worldwide advanced dementia is an increasingly burdensome health issue. People with advanced dementia have substantial care needs at the end of their life. The Alzheimer's Disease International report (2010) stated there were 35.6 million people living with dementia. The report estimates the number of people living with dementia worldwide will increase to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050. Further the majority of people will live in low and middle income countries. In 2010, the financial burden of dementia was costed at US$ 604 billion. The Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2010 report predicts that “these costs account for around 1% of the world’s gross domestic product, varying from 0.24% in low income countries, to 0.35% in low, middle income countries, 0.50% in high, middle income countries, and 1.24% in high income countries”. A high proportion of people with dementia need some level of care to supplement their cognitive decline. This care can range from minimal support of individual activities for example, shopping to a full range of personal care. As the person declines and the disease progresses total supervision necessitating 24hr care across 7 days per week, of all activities of daily living, is required. The Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2010 report states that the cost of informal care (unpaid) provided by families and the direct costs of care by health professionals in residential aged care facilities, equates to being the world’s 18th largest economy. Evidence also suggests that a lack of training, education and support for both health professionals and informal caregivers is still present. Thus the challenges before the community are significant and need to be responded to in a planned, informed and educated manner so that people dying from dementia can be the recipients of quality care at the end of their life