Liebenberg, L. (2018). Thinking critically about photovoice: Achieving empowerment and
social change. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1)
Photovoice is so quick and easy to use that it might be misused as a quick and easy replacement for engagements of longer terms. p.1
PAR - Participatory Action Research
PAR is "a response to the recognition that elitist forms of science together with policy and service structuring, driven by outside "experts," are increasingly failing individuals and communities" p.1
"The idea of participation refers to engagement of people in a democratic knowledge production process... Communities should have a direct say in the focus of the research and how the topic will be studied." p.2
"We as academics and researchers are, therefore, obligated to represent research methods and to find ways of ensuring that the implementation of research methods remains rigorous, while also establishing engaging and accessible processes amenable to the communities we work with." p.2
Power comes from collective commitment - Kemmis and McTaggart 2005, 569
"This can only be achieved through meaningful engagement of all parties... throughout the research process." p.2
Paulo Freire - "made use of photographs, which he believed function as a mirror to communities, reflecting everyday social and political realities that impact and shape people’s lives. He argued that in discussing the content of images, people are able to step back from their lives and engage more readily with the abstract. Simultaneously, however, he saw language as living and as action." p.3
"Freire believed that through a collective process of reflection, introspection, and discussion of images, communities would be able to uncover the social and political constructions that maintain their marginalization, and in the case of the communities with which he was working, their exploitation." p.3
Three levels of consciousness:
Magical - people accept their social positioning and status quo without resistance.
Naive - people believe their social situation is sound but unfair and corrupt. They might blame their peers for the state of their lives.
Critical consciousness - people are aware of both the ways in which contexts are structured to maintain oppression and the ways in which their own assumptions contribute to the maintenance of the oppressive systems. They explore ways to change social structures through their actions. p.3
"images introduced into narrative research create important links that participants can use to more critically reflect on their lived experiences and to more accurately discuss and share these experiences with others" p.4
"three aspects of reflection through making photographs, exploration of meaning through collaborative interpretation and dissemination for change, that make up the core components of the photovoice process" p.4
"The photovoice process entails the production of photographs by participants so as to facilitate reflection on daily experiences. Images are then collectively interpreted, and finally, resulting findings and emerging knowledge together with identified issues and resources are shared with policy makers with the intent to promote social change." p.4
"SHOWeD does reflect the focus necessary to identify the dynamics underlying and surrounding social issues: the social, economic, and political contexts that support ideologies and control the resources and strategies necessary to bring about change" p.5
"Wang (2003) explains that by using self-produced public photo exhibitions, photovoice can be used to influence how a community’s public presence is redefined and how social concerns are understood and responded to." p.5
"In order to ensure that photovoice projects add to the knowledge base and contribute to effective change, it is helpful to consider the following:
Photovoice is so quick and easy to use that it might be misused as a quick and easy replacement for engagements of longer terms. p.1
PAR - Participatory Action Research
PAR is "a response to the recognition that elitist forms of science together with policy and service structuring, driven by outside "experts," are increasingly failing individuals and communities" p.1
"The idea of participation refers to engagement of people in a democratic knowledge production process... Communities should have a direct say in the focus of the research and how the topic will be studied." p.2
"We as academics and researchers are, therefore, obligated to represent research methods and to find ways of ensuring that the implementation of research methods remains rigorous, while also establishing engaging and accessible processes amenable to the communities we work with." p.2
Power comes from collective commitment - Kemmis and McTaggart 2005, 569
"This can only be achieved through meaningful engagement of all parties... throughout the research process." p.2
Paulo Freire - "made use of photographs, which he believed function as a mirror to communities, reflecting everyday social and political realities that impact and shape people’s lives. He argued that in discussing the content of images, people are able to step back from their lives and engage more readily with the abstract. Simultaneously, however, he saw language as living and as action." p.3
"Freire believed that through a collective process of reflection, introspection, and discussion of images, communities would be able to uncover the social and political constructions that maintain their marginalization, and in the case of the communities with which he was working, their exploitation." p.3
Three levels of consciousness:
Magical - people accept their social positioning and status quo without resistance.
Naive - people believe their social situation is sound but unfair and corrupt. They might blame their peers for the state of their lives.
Critical consciousness - people are aware of both the ways in which contexts are structured to maintain oppression and the ways in which their own assumptions contribute to the maintenance of the oppressive systems. They explore ways to change social structures through their actions. p.3
"images introduced into narrative research create important links that participants can use to more critically reflect on their lived experiences and to more accurately discuss and share these experiences with others" p.4
"three aspects of reflection through making photographs, exploration of meaning through collaborative interpretation and dissemination for change, that make up the core components of the photovoice process" p.4
"The photovoice process entails the production of photographs by participants so as to facilitate reflection on daily experiences. Images are then collectively interpreted, and finally, resulting findings and emerging knowledge together with identified issues and resources are shared with policy makers with the intent to promote social change." p.4
"SHOWeD does reflect the focus necessary to identify the dynamics underlying and surrounding social issues: the social, economic, and political contexts that support ideologies and control the resources and strategies necessary to bring about change" p.5
"Wang (2003) explains that by using self-produced public photo exhibitions, photovoice can be used to influence how a community’s public presence is redefined and how social concerns are understood and responded to." p.5
"In order to ensure that photovoice projects add to the knowledge base and contribute to effective change, it is helpful to consider the following:
- Who are the power brokers necessary to bring about change?
- How can they be engaged in the research and related change process?
- What information will they need to do this?
- What are the best ways to share specific information with particular audiences?" p.6
"Perhaps the most pressing question facing photovoice studies today is how we promote substantive engagement of power
brokers in the knowledge mobilization process (Bober, 2011)" p.6
"As Wang and Burris
(1994, p. 180) explain, “empowerment includes at least four
kinds of access: access to knowledge, access to decisions,
access to networks, and access to resources.” Knowledge
includes both that which is explored, unearthed, and developed
through the process of image making and discussion as well as
knowledge of how to conduct research, share findings, and with
whom." p.6
"Emphasizing collaboration on multiple levels means that when used intentionally,
networks are established for especially silenced and marginalized members of communities and societies to meaningfully
add their voices to discussions of policy and resource
allocation." p.7
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