Epiphany
Knedler

Illuminating Disparity: Economic Inequality in the Midwest

Illuminating Disparity: Economic Inequality in the Midwest examines the contemporary world through a socioeconomic lens. Wealth is increasingly tied to health, education, and opportunity in the United States. By using documentary photography, emphasis is placed on culture, values, and political issues in the context of the Midwest.
Economic inequality in America is at the highest point since before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The existing wealth disparity leaves the top twenty percent holding eighty percent of the wealth while the bottom forty percent barely share a percentage point. Wealth is increasingly tied to health, education, and opportunity in the United States. Individuals will be unable to reach any form of economic stability and instead barely survive day to day. These statistics extend further than research but permeates every aspect of life. When born into one economic class it is nearly impossible to rise higher on the economic spectrum. These photographs capture facets of life affected by the economic sphere.
The topic of economic inequality is wholly personal. I became interested in the issue while pursuing my undergraduate career. In my middle-class family, I had a vague sense of the value of money. I attended an expensive university for my freshman year of college based on reputation. The expenses were immense and I was ultimately $40,000 in debt, leading me to transfer to the University of South Dakota. This story of debt is relevant to anyone seeking an education today. These experiences have shaped my future and inspired my focus on economic inequality.
The focus of the Midwest is due to its subtle economic disparity. It is rarely thought of as being high in disparity but instead evokes thoughts of nostalgia, melancholy, and familiarity. While Midwestern economics is known for its family-owned, small businesses, the reality is indicative of larger America. Since 1979, ninety-seven percent of all income growth in the Midwest occurred within the top one-percent. This class division is not obvious in the Midwest but these photographs pair these realities with the environment. The political and economic reality subtly infiltrates the composition. This photographic series is meant to shed light on disparity by creating a sense of instability in the viewer and provoking interest in a more equitable society. This series should allow the viewer to recognize this disparity in the world today.