Ethnographic filmmaking as narrative capital enhancement among Atauro diverwomen: a theoretical exploration

ABSTRACT

This article reports on a project involving the development and release of an ethnographic film about the women divers of Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, and suggests a theoretical framework to interpret its outcomes. It describes the project aims and the filmmaking process, and reports on its results. In doing so, the paper explores the potential use of an agent-based concept of narrative capital focused on collective agents. The article suggests that the ideas of narrative capital and transformations of capital by collective agents can provide a valuable interpretative framework for the design, implementation, and analyses of results of development interventions involving filmmaking.

Cet article présente un compte rendu sur un projet concernant l’élaboration et la sortie d’un film ethnographique sur les plongeuses de l’île Atauro, Timor-Leste, et suggère un cadre théorique pour en interpréter les résultats. Il décrit les objectifs du projet et le processus de réalisation du film, et en présente les résultats. Cet article examine aussi l’utilisation potentielle d’un concept basé sur des agents du capital narratif concentré sur les agents collectifs. Il article suggère que les idées de capital narratif et de transformations du capital par des agents collectifs peuvent fournir un cadre interprétatif prometteur pour la conception, la mise en œuvre et les analyses des résultats des interventions de développement faisant intervenir la réalisation de films.

El presente artículo da cuenta de un proyecto que implicó el montaje y el estreno de una película etnográfica sobre las mujeres buceadoras de la isla de Atauro, Timor Oriental, y propone un marco para interpretar sus resultados. En este sentido, examina los motivos que dieron lugar a este proyecto y el desarrollo del proceso fílmico, presentando luego los resultados obtenidos. Específicamente, el artículo analiza el uso potencial de un concepto de capital narrativo basado en agentes que, en este caso, se centra en agentes colectivos, sugiriendo que las ideas vinculadas al capital narrativo y a las transformaciones de capital llevadas a cabo por agentes colectivos pueden proveer un marco interpretativo prometedor para el diseño, la implementación y el análisis de los resultados de aquellas intervenciones de desarrollo en que esté implicada la cinematografía.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender and diversity
• Labour and livelihoods – poverty reduction
• Methods
• Technology – media
• East Asia
• South Asia

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the ScicoFish project for providing funding for the development of the film. A first version of this paper was presented at the Fifth Global Symposium on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries held in Lucknow, India, in November 2014. We would like to acknowledge the Asian Fisheries Society and the GAF5 sponsors (Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, USAID, Norad, Marine Exports Development Authority – India, National Fisheries Development Board – India, and Aquaculture without Frontiers) for the opportunity to participate in the event. Special thanks to Meryl J. Williams and the whole GAF5 organising team (B. Meenakumari, Marieta Bañez Sumagaysay, Sun-ae Ii, J. K. Jena, Danika Kleiber, Angela Lentisco, Jariah Masud, Md Nuruzzaman, Marilyn Porter, Indah Susilowati, Cherdsak Virapat, and Stella Williams) for their support in letting Wawata Topu reach new audiences.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Enrique Alonso-Población is an independent consultant and Research Fellow at the Arthropology Lab. He holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of A Coruña (Spain) and has extensive experience as a development practitioner in the areas of fisheries and environmental governance.

Alberto Fidalgo-Castro holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of A Coruña (Spain) and is a Research Fellow at the Arthropology Lab. His main focuses of research are peasant studies, food systems, and the economics and politics of ritual in Timor-Leste. He combines his research with professional experience as a development consultant.

David Palazón-Monforte is a multifaceted and prolific independent artist and Arts Fellow at the Arthropology Lab. He studied media and design at the London College of Communication and the Royal College of Art, and has extensive experience as a project manager, researcher, designer, and filmmaker.

ORCID

Enrique Alonso-Población http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5201-6026

Alberto Fidalgo-Castro http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0538-5582

Notes

1. With the exception of the overview article by McWilliam (2003) and a paper by Gunn (2003) on the copying strategies of Timorese fishers after the Indonesian withdrawal. A recently released dissertation by Alessandro Boarccaech contains descriptions on productive practices as well as interesting insights on the interconnections between fishing and religious beliefs and identity (Bicca 2011).

2. Furthermore, during the Indonesian era, use of cyanide, fish bombing, and other unsustainable fishing practices have been reported. See De Carvalho, da Silva Guterres, and Delimas (2007).

3. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported that only about 200–300 paddle canoes and around 100 motorised canoes remained operational at the time of independence.

4. The Protestant Church in Atauro (Assemblies of God) promoted a rupture with many indigenous rituals (Bicca 2011) and practices regarded as “traditional” (adat, lisan or kultura), however people still know, recount and hold some value in certain origin narratives in Adara.

5. Tourism is one of the focal economic sectors for the government in its plan of transition to a non-oil economy. As such it is reflected in the National Development Goals.

6. The documentary is available online, and has been translated into several languages (German, Spanish, Italian, French, English, and Portuguese), screened at festivals all around the globe, and received the best Foreign Documentary Award at the American Online Film Awards and the Special Prize “Chandrika Sharma” at the International Festival “Pêcheurs du monde” in France.

7. See http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=9284&lang=pt (accessed 31 October 2014).