Film ethnography and critical consciousness: exploring a community-based action research methodology for Freirean transformation

Abstract

Film ethnography is established within social development academia and praxis, but there is limited impact-evidence of its ability to positively transform participant communities through studies based on credible theoretical underpinnings. This article suggests that Paulo Freire’s ‘critical consciousness’ theory, involving self-reflection and transformation, has relevance for film ethnography because ethnographic film can present life situations back to its subjects in ways that allow people to view themselves differently. Fieldwork is presented describing the use of film ethnography as an action research methodology based on Freirean principles where vulnerable Nepali communities (whose lives and livelihoods are heavily dependent on working equines) and their equines engaged in participatory film ethnography, as part of ongoing engagement activities by project partners seeking transformation in working equine welfare and the economic stability of equine-owning communities. The broader historical theoretical underpinnings of ethnographic film are discussed, followed by a description of how they were applied in the action research. Informed by Heider the authors have resisted the temptation to define and apply ethnographic film as an absolute, but rather as ‘various attributes, or dimensions, that effect ethnographicness’ in films and filmmaking methodologies. Similarly, participation is presented as characteristics of ‘participatoryness’ utilising the Johari Window, created by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in 1955. Drawing on Wiek et al.’s ‘effect-capturing approach’ an evaluation methodology is described aligned to Freire’s conscientisation praxis using high levels of participant self-reflection. Initial findings do evidence some effectiveness of community-based film ethnography as an action research methodology for positive change based on Freirean methodologies, showing transformation in participant knowledge of, and behaviour towards, their equines. A longitudinal study is planned to explore whether these changes sustain into the long-term. The community transformations that have emerged from the film ethnography process offer improvement in the health and wellbeing of equines, promoting greater resilience and stability of income generation capacity within communities. Some positive enhancement of the wider socio-political environment for equine welfare is emerging through stakeholder engagement and new equine outreach services. The bespoke evaluation methodology employed contributes to the originality of the research findings and outcomes. This project has attracted interest from other Nepali social development organisations, questioning if the overall methodology is transferable to help address other social challenges in under-resourced rural areas. The authors also believe this project has opened a discussion around Freirean liberation applied to animal wellbeing, in the context of restoring humanity. Finally, the authors suggest that, by going beyond observational cinema and demonstrating ethnographic film as an action research methodology that can catalyse transformation within communities, this article presents the type of participatory praxis that Henley alludes to, offering ‘interesting possibilities for “ways of doing” ethnographic film in the twenty-first century’.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Brown

Michael Brown (principal investigator) is a filmmaker and practice-led researcher focusing on social and environmental issues (www.marginalvoices.org). His PhD in participatory development communication, conducted in Nepal, began his long career supporting marginalised people, animals and the environment to have stronger voice in the discussion of issues that directly affect them. ([email protected])

Mary-Jane O’Leary

Mary-Jane O’Leary is a lecturer in sociology at John Moores University Liverpool and a researcher in film, audience studies, media and technology. Currently, she is developing qualitative research proposals around the ideas of media theory, post-capitalism and the phenomenology of social change and unrest. ([email protected])

Hari Joshi

Hari Prasad Joshi is Executive Director of Animal Nepal, a pioneering animal welfare organisation (www.animalnepal.org.np). He completed his Master’s degree in Statistics at Tribhuvan University, and has more than twenty years working to enhance the capacity of different marginalised groups in Nepal. ([email protected])