Expropriating Privacy

During the winter of 2020, Toronto resident Khaleel Seivwright, began to construct small mobile shelters provide insulation and privacy unhoused residents living outdoors. Conditions produced by COVID-19 pandemic increased demand on city’s already underfunded strained shelter system, subsequently accelerating development encampments in parks throughout city. From outset, these “tiny shelters” served as a flashpoint public discourse question relative health, safety, beauty privacy. Drawing media coverage Seivwright’s case, we address private persona it emerges relation unhoused, practices violent expropriation which daily police their existence. By examining news discourses about Sievwrights tiny shelters, interrogate how Sievwright’s came represent encampment well himself emerging boundary subject mediating contradictory relations immanent domesticity: between space identity. Our analysis asks limits are actively imposed managed under capitalism: who is allowed have domestic space, where that exist, crucially what personas emerge departing from normative bounds capitalism’s public/private distinction? Using critical (CDA), examine ways mediated individuals institutions at same time addressing themselves intervene this process. CDA directs us ask constituted through language. This emphasis both outcome power mediator its own right permits figures conventionally denied while simultaneously complicating challenging meanings behind domesticity within capitalist cities.