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Be = f (P,E)
A photographic study
Be = f (P,E) A photographic study Karen Rangeley
Introduction To assert that human development is a product of interaction between the growing human organism and its environment is to state what is almost a commonplace in behavioral science...To be specific, the principle asserts that behavior evolves as a function of the interplay between person and environment, expressed symbolically in Kurt Lewin’s classic equation: B= f(P, E)1
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DISUSED OLD COTTAGES
JOINER’S WORKSHOP
SINGEING
CONFERENCE ROOM
GENERAL OFFICE
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SOLVENT AND BAGGING
STORE
LOADING BAY
TRANSFORMER HOUSE WAREHOUSE
LAB
GREY ROOM TRANSFORMER ROOM
MONFORT STENTER ENGINEERS STORE AND OFFICE
CUTTING FINISHING
DYEING PITS
DYE HOUSE
DYED/ROUGH PERCHING
3 BOILER 1&2 BRUCKNER STENTER
SUN TERRACE
LOCKER ROOM
COLOUR STORE
KITCHEN
DYERS OFFICE
DYEING
SUCTION
OUT OF USE TOILETS
STORAGE TANKS TREATMENT CHANNEL
OLD COAL BUNKER RETAINING WALL
4 2X 117,000 GALL CAP STORAGE TANKS
PUMP HOUSE
WATER TANK
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Introduction To assert that human development is a product of interaction between the growing human organism and its environment is to state what is almost a commonplace in behavioral science...To be specific, the principle asserts that behavior evolves as a function of the interplay between person and environment, expressed symbolically in Kurt Lewin’s classic equation: B= f(P, E)1
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DISUSED OLD COTTAGES
JOINER’S WORKSHOP
SINGEING
CONFERENCE ROOM
GENERAL OFFICE
SOLVENT AND BAGGING
STORE
LOADING BAY
TRANSFORMER HOUSE WAREHOUSE
LAB
GREY ROOM TRANSFORMER ROOM
MONFORT STENTER ENGINEERS STORE AND OFFICE
CUTTING FINISHING
DYEING PITS
DYE HOUSE
DYED/ROUGH PERCHING
BOILER 1&2 BRUCKNER STENTER
SUN TERRACE
LOCKER ROOM
COLOUR STORE
KITCHEN
DYERS OFFICE
DYEING
SUCTION
OUT OF USE TOILETS
STORAGE TANKS TREATMENT CHANNEL
OLD COAL BUNKER RETAINING WALL
2X 117,000 GALL CAP STORAGE TANKS
PUMP HOUSE
WATER TANK
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Man’s sense of space is closely related to his sense of self, which is an intimate transaction with his environment.2
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Our sense of being a person can come from being drawn into a wider social unit Our sense of selfhood can arise through the little ways in which we resist the pull Our status is backed by the solid buildings of the world, While our sense of personal identity often resides in the cracks.3
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Commentary My relationship with Roberts Dyers & Finishers began in the summer of 2013 when charismatic MD, David Slater, showed me around the mill, as part of a collaborative project to promote the textile industry in West Yorkshire. My initial images were of machines, materials and people at work, but the more I photographed, the more fascinated I became with the interaction between the employees and their social environment. Despite what are obviously strong working relationships, I was struck by how little time the employees spent with each other. This is largely a practical issue; constant vigilance of the machines makes it difficult to take a break from production area and most choose to grab a drink near their desk or machine, rather than take the extra few minutes to walk to the canteen. Instead, they have adapted their environment to create their own personal space – some fully equipped with desks, fridge, microwave, kettle – others with just a chair, and a mug. Territories are marked by filing cabinets, rolls of material, sheets of metal or often simply a bag. As I photographed these spaces, I got to know many of the men and women in the office and factory. Brief interviews yielded more insight into their personal worlds, but I decided I wanted to see the workplace through their eyes. Armed with disposable cameras, they agreed (some requiring more persuasion than others) to photograph their social spaces. I have curated a selection of their images that work with mine to convey the dynamic relationship between people and their environment, as Lewin so succinctly described in his equation. Karen Rangeley May 2014
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References 1_ Bronfenbrenner, U., (1979) The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press p16. 2_ Hall, E.T., 1990 (The Hidden Dimension. (2nd Ed.) New York: Anchor Books p 63. 3_ Goffman., E., (1958) in Schwartz, B. (1968) ‘The Social Psychology of Privacy,’ American Journal of Sociology 73 (6) :752
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Index of images – photographs by Karen Rangeley unless otherwise stated Page/s 2 Floor plan of the mill, Roberts Dyers and Finishers 3 The Shig 5 Dyehouse kitchen I 6 Canteen 5/6 Conference Room, Steph Woodhead, General Office Record player, Alan Robinson, Finishing 7 Fake Urinal, Dyeing 8 Dyehouse kitchen II 7/8 Steam, Dyehouse Team, Colour Store Union Flag, Tony Lavelle, Cutting 10 Washing up area 11 Gail’s desk, General Office 12 Liz’s desk, General Office 11/12 View from Liz’s desk, Liz Stubley, General Office Clock, Gail Blundell, General Office 13 Unclaimed chair
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14 John’s chair 13/14 Outside, Jake Greenman, Transport Machine, John Ridd, Greige 15 Simon and Jason’s chairs/table 16 Darren’s chair/table 15/16 Feet, Barry Greenman, Finishing Flippers, Dyehouse Team, Colour Store 17 Tony’s personal area 18 Mick’s table and heater 17/18 King dad, Mick Brannan, Finishing Ghost, Dyehouse Team, Colour Store 19 Terry’s chair and cabinet 20 Paul’s chair 19/20 No entry, John Clarke, Colour store Cloth, John Ridd, Greige 21 England Chair 22 View
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Edition
Acknowledgements With thanks to_ The staff at Roberts Dyers, Keighley for their patience, understanding and many interuptions over the past year. Special thanks to David Slater for allowing me the space to develop the project and to Gail for all the important stuff, chasing up information and other invaluable support; Adrian Davies for passing on the photobook bug and for constantly challenging me to move outside my comfort zone... Friends and family for putting up with endless conversations about the project. Photographs by Karen Rangeley and employees from Roberts Dyers & Finishers, Keighley Design and artwork production: Formula Studio, Leeds First Edition self published in the UK by Karen Rangeley/Max Gregory
Copyright 2014
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Be = f (P,E)
