Growing up in Metro Detroit, with a rooted legacy in the city, has placed me in the position of voyeur. Through this lens, I have witnessed a community that refuses to be buried by the ‘New’. I have also felt the tension that sits between two divergent narratives of progress. One of resistance, that seeks to protect and unveil the realities of communities navigating decaying infrastructure. The other, a narrative that promotes an illusion of progress within a concentrated area of economic growth. This visual essay serves to highlight the ways in which brand culture acts as propaganda, creating counter narratives that serve in masking the violence of gentrification. ~ Taylor Simone .
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Taylor Simone is a graphic artist, designer and writer from metro Detroit. Simone is currently a graduate MFA student in MDES program for Visual Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University
