Filmmaking as empirical research: working with people from refugee backgrounds to share stories about food

Abstract

This article is an examination of the potential of visual research methods used in a collaborative way with people from refugee backgrounds to share narratives of lived experiences in an ethical and reciprocal manner. The interdisciplinary study drawing on sociology and anthropology relies on community collaboration and ethnographic research methods to produce a documentary depicting the sociocultural role of food for Myanmar people with a refugee background, now residing in an Australian regional city. The creation of the documentary, The Last Refuge: Food Stories from Myanmar to Coffs Harbour, allowed these food stories to be shared in a multi-dimensional, textural way that depicted and engaged multiple senses associated with food interactions. Apart from its academic value, the documentary was also aimed at a wider audience through screenings at local, national and international film festivals. The use of collaborative research methods allowed the film to develop into something deeply connected to the participants. It became their film, their medium to tell their stories; as well as an opportunity to stand up in their new community and be proud of their culture. Reflecting on the filmmaking journey highlights the grounded nature of this research and the need to re-evaluate and be informed by participants. The author surveys the pre-production, production and output phases. The documentary, or ‘end product’, did not, however, signify the end of the journey. Understanding the film’s impact on the participants, the filmmaker and audiences continue to extend the scope of the project.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

[1] Early in the research design phase, the intention was to conduct all interviews in English, due to limited funds for interpreters. However, offers from the community to provide interpreters meant that participants could speak more comfortably in their first language, with the addition of subtitles.

[2] I almost always gained a strong sense of the ‘usefulness’ of footage during filming, and I knew this interview would clearly add to the narrative.

[3] On numerous occasions, I was confronted with sound recording challenges, including traffic noise during garden tours/outdoor interviews and loud background noises (television and music) in some homes. I intervened minimally in altering these environments as I did not want to interrupt the ‘natural setting’. The use of subtitles has meant that content has not been compromised in this context.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mandy Hughes

Mandy Hughes is a lecturer and researcher at Southern Cross University, Australia. Her PhD project, from which this article is drawn, explored the foodways of the Myanmar community now residing in the regional city of Coffs Harbour, Australia. Mandy has a strong interest in using audio visual materials to communicate cultural and social justice issues. She has taught in various disciplines including sociology, media studies and Asian Studies. Mandy’s research includes refugee studies, visual research, food security/food sovereignty, food cultures, Communication for Development (C4D), sociology of health, and international development effectiveness.