From Plymouth to Athens — and Kafka
A key part of module PHO616 (Professional Practice — Photography) at Plymouth University is evaluating career paths, and making informed decisions based on valid sources (workshops, taxation issues, networking etc.). Freelancing seems to be the way to go, especially when one looks at the career paths relating to photography; so, I just started looking at the requirements for registering as Self-Employed and Self-Employment in the U.K.
“Disclaimer”: should you notice the tag “PHO616” in most of the links mentioned in this post, it’s because I tend to cite fellow students. Their research is up-to-date, and they share the same goals and anxieties.
Brexit has created a lot of anxiety to Europeans working in the UK, as everything is up in the air and opinions outweigh the facts — at least until a deal is struck between the EU and the UK. Although I would like to work in Britain, I am seriously considering the options in Greece. The financial crisis, however, has taken its toll, both in terms of economy and society; just have a gander at this article to understand the bureaucracy, the high taxes, and the low income, when it comes to freelancing.
I started looking at the available resources for understanding the requirements for freelancers in Greece. Most of the links are in Greek and -to my knowledge- there is no single, authoritative, state-approved guide on how to begin. What have I gathered so far? a) register as a freelancer with the tax authorities, b) register for pension and social security (seems like a bitter joke for most of my Greek friends), c) pre-pay your tax and social security, d) find a job, e) pay for social security, f) hope that you’ll get a job to pay for social security — it’s mandatory, even if you haven’t found a source of income.
I’m just simplifying what I have understood up to now; I will probably make corrections as I go, but I am disheartened at how the system works, after so many memoranda and reforms due to the economic crisis.
However, there is the other side of the coin. The whole red tape / bureaucracy thing reminded me of Franz Kafka and his dystopian gaze. Working as a civil servant during the infamous Weimar Republic, Kafka brought existentialism to literature in a blunt way; not as a philosophical pursuit, but as a daily phenomenon — an experience of hell in the real world. Bureaucracy and the loss of identity (people turning into animals) is a motif that you’ll encounter many times in his works.
So, I started looking into photographs of dystopia; partly because I needed some inspiration and partly because this pessimistic view of the world fascinates me; it’s like peering into the visualised fears of another individual. Do not fret! The experience is also therapeutic…
Although a basic Google search revealed a lot of Photoshop composites, I came across Alexander Rentsch, who -according to his bio- is starting his career in photography. His dystopian images are powerful and realistic; they juxtapose the urban landscape with glimpses of cloudy skies and bring back memories of Constructivism / New Objectivity in architecture: buildings made of concrete, clear lines, geometry — all in an attempt to bring order to natural chaos. Man’s attempt to subdue nature is a failed experiment which leads to Rentsch’s dystopia; the loss of individuality, the compartmentalised life, and the once glorious achievements that deteriorate along with the lives they engulf.
I will continue researching the formal and informal requirements of freelancing (workshops, professional aid, work offers), but I will also incorporate the discussion of a photographer, especially someone who is just gaining traction, because I feel it’s pivotal to understanding my own inspirations and aspirations…
So, welcome to my little private (?) space on the web!
K.
