THE HEAR & NOW
Socio-Political Disparity
Preconceptions |
Artefact 2.1 Left | Preconceptions of Cairo Word Cloud
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Literary resources paint Cairo as a culturally rich, politically charged, chaotic megalopolis.
Research Wall |
Artefact 2.2 Above | Urban flotsam research wall in studio strategy room
Informal vs Government |
Artefact 2.3 Left | Social disparity collage
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To 'outsiders' a recurring theme appears the root cause of social and economic issues.
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A dysfunctional interplay exists between the middle - lower class residents of Cairo and the Government regime.
Egypt's Political Past |
Artefact 2.4 Below | Historic timeline (Cairo Observer, 2022)
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Egypt's recent history explains how 3 - 4 decades of misguided policy have occurred. The result - religious divides, overcrowding, neglect of the informal population and inequitable qualities of life (Ellis, 2022).
The People's Revolution 2011 - A Call for Change |
Artefact 2.5 Below | Screenshot Collage of 'The Square' documenting the 2011-2013 revolution to overthrow Mubarak and Morsi (Noujaim, 2013)
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In 2011 Cairenes tried to reclaim control of their country from the hands of a series of oppressive dictatorships. Over 850 lives were lost. The effort was successful to an extent; a culture of protest was born and a collective voice was found. Nonetheless the military are now in charge. Free speech is silenced and individuals are not heard.
Awareness created using voices & documentation helped the people to prevail over the government in 2013.
However, corruption remains.
A Cycle of Flawed Strategies to Solve Overcrowding |
Artefact 2.6 Above | Mapping of failed desert towns built by presidents to combat overcrowding. (Audio edit Ellis, 2022)
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Despite being the largest and cheapest workforce in the city the government plans to eradicate and disrupt the self sufficient informal ecosystem. Since 2015 resources have been restricted, forcing public enrolment in the grid. This makes citizens taxable, admits their illegal yet normalised presence and subjects them to displacement.
Demolition is Underway |
Artefact 2.7 Above | Photo collage. Homes have been demolished to make way for highways into the desert and ghost towns.
'Half of Cairo is being muted - How do we resolve the imbalance between formal & informal?'
Demographics
Further Fundamental Concerns |
Artefacts 2.8 - 2.10 Left & Below | Demographic statistics (Burdett, 2018)
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Data reveals a high percentage of the Cairo residents live below the poverty line and the average life expectancy is only 72 (Burdett, 2018).
Cairo's population continues to grow rapidly. Action is needed to recognise and care for the underserved informal community.
Area of Personal Intrigue
Sound
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'Vibrations that travel through the air or other medium & can be heard when they reach a person’s ear'
Noise
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'A sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance.'
Sound Vs Noise |
Artefact 2.11 Left | Personal interpretation of sound and noise with definitions (Cambridge Dictionary, 2023)
Cairo - the World's 3rd Loudest City |
Artefact 2.12 Below | Ranking of noise in cities (HBK, 2018)
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With a basic understanding of Cairo's socio-economic situation. I researched a more personal topic. To learn about every-day well-being I investigated sleep quality - a fundamental aspect of physical and mental health (Walker, 2017).
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I found noise levels are excessive - with not only the potential to prevent sleep but damage hearing.
Sound Levels in Cairo |
Artefact 2.13 Left | Sound levels during a study of Cairo's noise pollution (Arpi, 2008).
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Noise pollution rarely drops below 70dB and averages 90dB (Arpi, 2008). This is equivalent to living inside a factory.
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Interested to test the impact of sound in the Informal City - I bought a decibel meter. Noise became a key driver in my fieldwork and search for a significant moment to develop.