Sculpting stories
Methods to unsettle knowledge production in disasters
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15308035 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emily Ragus (0009-0005-1565-9697, University of Amsterdam, corresponding author), Catherine Sutherland (0000-0002-0415-5232, University of KwaZulu-Natal), L Manderson (0000-0002-7883-1790, University of the Witwatersrand), E Moyer (0000-0002-1233-6041, University of Amsterdam) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 75-89 |
| Publication date | 2024-11-21 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0965-3562 • E-ISSN: 1758-6100 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/dpm-01-2024-0034 |
| OpenAlex | W4404652553 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 40 |
Purpose This study examines the application of arts-based research (ABR) methods in producing knowledge about the lived experiences of disasters, particularly focusing on the effects of flooding in an informal settlement in South Africa. It emphasizes the use of playdough sculpting as a tool for storytelling, aiming to address and reduce power imbalances between local participants and external researchers. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a qualitative approach, using playdough sculpting workshops conducted in the Quarry Road West informal settlement in Durban. These workshops were designed to capture the personal stories of individuals affected by the 2022 Durban floods. Data were collected through participant observation, photography and interviews, and were analyzed using a thematic framework to identify recurring patterns in the participants’ disaster experiences. Findings The research demonstrates that ABR methods, particularly playdough sculpting, effectively foster participatory engagement in disaster research. This method provided a platform for participants to describe their embodied experiences of the floods, addressing uneven epistemological power dynamics. It also highlighted the potential of ABR in facilitating the decolonization of disaster research by centering local narratives. Originality/value This study offers insights into the potential of ABR as a creative methodology in disaster research. It highlights how ABR can complement traditional research approaches by incorporating local perspectives and fostering more inclusive knowledge production in the context of disasters. The study also presents a ten-step guideline for applying playdough sculpting across various disciplines
Data science · Economics · Knowledge management · Knowledge production · Production (economics · Computer Science · Disaster Management and Resilience · History · Participatory Visual Research Methods
A Multisensory Approach to Visual Methods
Poverty and inequality in South Africa
Vulnerability as Concept, Model, Metric, and Tool
A Dilemma of Language
Disaster management ‘deeds’ in the context of April 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods
Decolonizing environmentalism
A new flood chronology for KwaZulu-Natal (1836–2022)
Arts-Based Methods for Decolonising Participatory Research
Photovoice
Use of comic strips in teaching earthquakes to kindergarten children
Pacific methodologies in critical disaster studies
Framing Futurities in Photovoice, Health, and Environment
CityLab reflections and evolutions
An art therapy intervention for symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety among Syrian refugee children
Co-producing knowledge to address disaster risks in informal settlements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Altered Inquiry
A call to rethink African scholars beyond “local experts
Effects of Photovoice
Arts as a vehicle for community building and post-disaster development
Decolonising disasters
A critical analysis of the South African Disaster Management Act and Policy Framework
How can Story Completion be Used in Culturally Safe Ways
The Unsayable in Arts-Based Research
Researching Creations
Reflections on Researcher Identity and Power
What Does Catastrophe Reveal for Whom? The Anthropology of Crises and Disasters at the Onset of the Anthropocene
A Plea for Visual Thinking
Images, Senses and Applications
Dissecting Images
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |