Thatcher's Children

Thatchers Children was a project by Easton in 1992 that depicted the lives of two parents and six children living in a hostel for homeless families in Blackpool, England. The project was created in response to a speech by Peter Lilley, then Secretary of State for Social Security, who announced his determination to 'close down the something-for-nothing society.' Easton's monochrome images of the overcrowded two-bedroom council flat in Blackpool sparked a reaction by both the public and the press, attaching human faces and nuanced realities to a group of people who were casually maligned by politicians and the media as an 'underclass of scroungers.'

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2023
Publisher: GOST Books

Thatchers Children is a captivating project that emerged from a series initially created in 1992, delving into the lives of two parents and six children residing in a hostel for homeless families in Blackpool, England. This initiative was sparked by a speech delivered by Peter Lilley, then Secretary of State for Social Security, in which he expressed his unwavering commitment to dismantling the "something-for-nothing society." In response to this call, French newspaper Libération dispatched a journalist to northern England to explore the essence of this society firsthand. Recognizing the significance of visual representation, they commissioned Easton to capture the accompanying photographs. Easton's monochrome images, which depicted the overcrowded two-bedroom council flat in Blackpool, ignited a powerful reaction from both the public and the press. Through his lens, he infused human faces and nuanced realities into a group of individuals often unfairly maligned by politicians and the media as an "underclass of scroungers." These images not only shed light on the lived experiences of these families but also challenged the prevailing narratives and stereotypes associated with them. Easton's work serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding, and compassion in addressing social issues and challenging the societal norms that perpetuate inequality.

Weight: 786g
Dimension: 277 x 219 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781910401842