The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge of media attention on care and older adults, topics that were previously marginal in the media. Using this moment as a framing event, the ‘Images of Care’ research projects aim to understand how care and later life are represented in the news media and imagined by older adults in their daily lives. ABOUT The aim of the Images of Care project is to gain a deeper understanding of care in later life by examining how care is portrayed in news images and how individuals themselves visually communicate their experiences of care. It is crucial to examine how care in later life is visually represented, as these visual representations shape societal norms and perceptions surrounding aging and care. To complete these aims we conducted the following three research activities: Media analysis: We analysed over 1,000 images from UK mainstream news media of care and later life during the pandemic. Co-analysis Workshops: To understand the meaning behind these images in news media we conducted workshops where participants actively co-analysed the images. Photography project: In addition to studying existing media images of care, we had older adults create their own images of care in their daily lives. IMAGE GUIDELINES: Image With the help of our participants, we have developed guidelines for images of care and later life. These guidelines are an output generated from our research findings that analysed images in UK news articles and from our co-analysis workshops that qualitatively examined these images with older adults. This research identified a pressing need for guidelines to address issues in representation of care in later life. These guidelines are available for download below. About these Guidelines: Media images tend to depict older adults primarily in terms of healthcare, as burdens or objects of pity. These unfavourable stereotypes about ageing are particularly pronounced when talking about care, where the loss of independence and burden are frequently emphasized. Our research found media images often depict older adults as passive recipients of care, neglecting their active contributions and the complexity of caregiving. Moreover, these portrayals tend to underscore care as a private responsibility rather than a shared societal concern. To counteract these issues and foster a more accurate and respectful portrayal of care in later life, we developed image guidelines collaboratively with input from our research participants. The goal is to move beyond simplistic and negative depictions, promoting a more nuanced understanding of care in later life. Studies have found that older adults feel that they are represented poorly in the media and internalize these negative messages about ageing. Our research echoes these findings, revealing low expectations and diminished trust in media representations. Our guidelines aim to prompt reflection on image selection, advocating for respectful and truthful depictions to contribute to positive narratives surrounding ageing and care. Image Guidelines for Care and Later Life EXHIBITION: Image In addition to analysing media representations of care and later life, we have been working on a creative photography project that has been turned into an exhibition. The Images of Care exhibition critically explores what care looks like in later life. It is comprised of 170 photographs taken by older adults of moments of care in their daily life. Co-produced with older adults, the exhibition aims to redefine visual narratives of aging and care. Background: Through the Images of Care research we found that media narratives often approach both ageing and care as a problem and reproduced ageist stereotypes. The Images of Care exhibition aims to reframe these topics through participatory photography to share moments of care in daily life that are often overlooked. Objectives: Through the lens of participants-turned-photographers, we aimed to capture a greater understanding of care, challenging stereotypes, and acknowledging the lived experiences of older adults. By co-producing the exhibition, we take these experiences of care and elevate them to the status of an exhibition while simultaneously challenging what counts as valued experiences, skills, and subjects to reproduce in this space. Visual elements: The exhibition features four double-sided fabric panels, 2 meters in height and width, displaying all 170 participant-taken photographs. Accompanied by text written by participants and quotes from interviews, these images highlight the beauty in everyday acts of care and reflect the collaborative essence of the project. EXHIBTION SHOWINGS 2024: April 15-16 - ACRC Symposium, University of Edinburgh May 28–30 - Impact Festival, Nucleus Building University of Edinburgh June 26-29 - International Visual Sociology Association Conference, Xalapa, Mexico September 28 - Usher Building, Edinburgh. Find out more here. November 4, 6, 7 - Festival of Social Science - Can AI Represent Care?, Inspace, Edinburgh, UK November 7-8 - Being Human Festival - Can AI Represent Care?, Inspace, Edinburgh, UK CAN AI REPRESENT CARE? ACRC Academy PhD Student Melody Wang further added to the Images of Care research leading a summer research project exploring how care is represented in AI-generated images. Recent developments in text-to-image (T2I) AI tools such as Midjourney enable users to generate high-quality images from textual descriptions. These AI-generated images are increasingly produced and used across a broader range of fields. This research investigated how care is (mis)represented in AI images through a visual semiotic analysis of 140 images of “care” generated by Midjourney. Her findings indicate that Midjourney is reproducing stereotypical, reductive, and inaccurate representations of care that often conflate care with older age, reduce care to formal care and a one-to-one relationship, and visualise care as feminine and through touch. She further tested the potential of mitigating these biases and creating alternative images of care through prompt engineering. In 4th-8th November 2024, as part of the Festival of Social Science and Being Human Festival, Melody and Nichole will hold a series of events to invite the public to join the conversation, and generate their own images of care using AI. Come visit us in Inspace at the following events: Exhibition: 4, 6, 8 Nov. From 10am to 5pm, drop-in. Located at Inspace Workshop: Monday, 4th Nov 10am –12pm Register here Sharing Event Reception: Thursday, 7th Nov 5 – 7pm (Doors open at 5pm, and the sharing starts at 5:30 pm). Registration is recommended, but you can also drop in For more information, see: www.designinformatics.org/event/images-of-care/ CONTACT: If you are interested in learning more about the Images of Care project or have any questions about the project please contact Dr Nichole Fernández N.Fernandez@ed.ac.uk This article was published on 2024-09-24
