Making time for storytelling; the challenges of community building and activism in a rural locale

Authors

  • Sarah Copeland PhD student Faculty of Innovation North Leeds Metropolitan University
  • Clodagh Miskelly Doctor, consultant and researcher in culture, media and arts in social change and development, and participatory media facilitator

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/seminar.2442

Keywords:

Social Change, Activism, Rural Community, Intergenerational, Participatory, Community Media, Creative Practice, Motivation, Mandate

Abstract

The uneven projection of voices from or within a community can be addressed, in part, by methods such as digital storytelling in a technology and media-savvy society. Whilst the use of digital storytelling to facilitate constructive dialogue has proved successful for those who participate, instilling a sense of motivation to become involved at the outset can pose a challenge. Members of different types of community groups, whether geo-physical or practice-based, will not necessarily be drawn to involvement in social action through group workshops without prior personal engagement. This paper considers which other participatory media techniques can be employed to encourage involvement in community digital storytelling workshops to inspire activism, and examines barriers to participation, with emphasis on the necessity of mandate, for project success. To help answer these issues, one particular workshop in a case study in North Yorkshire, UK will be used to identify the importance of place and incorporation of methods when undertaking community digital storytelling.

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Published

2010-11-24

How to Cite

Copeland, S., & Miskelly, C. (2010). Making time for storytelling; the challenges of community building and activism in a rural locale. Seminar.net, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.7577/seminar.2442

Issue

Section

Articles