Photovoice, Videovoice and Participatory Video in the Age of Instagram & TikTok

• In Event: Methodological Developments for Social Media

Abstract

This article critically reflects on the implementation of photovoice, videovoice and participatory video to explore the perspectives of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugees and migrants regarding their journey to and experiences in their host country of Brazil. The project was motivated by our previous research on the impact of the pandemic on Venezuelan LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in Manaus. At the start of the pandemic, in the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in Latin America, fake news stories on social media claiming that LGBTQ+ people were the source of COVID-19 spread caused Venezuelan LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in Manaus to fear for their safety. They stressed that their lives had become even more precarious, and they felt increased anxiety about finding work and settling in Brazil. In addition, the interviewees felt they had very little support from the Brazilian state. They stressed that the government was not doing enough to protect citizens, let alone asylum seekers. These LGBT asylum seekers felt frozen due to the pandemic as their asylum applications had been paused and most were fearful of public spaces. For that study, we conducted 56 short surveys and 28 semi-structured interviews with Venezuelan LGBTQ+ asylum seekers but we realized, as others in the literature have, that surveys and interviews can fail to capture the everyday nuances and complexities of migration. Photovoice, videovoice and participatory video allow us to move beyond words, and in utilizing a medium free from the burdens of language or literacy, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugees and migrants can present their world to the global community on their own terms. In the age of Instagram and TikTok, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugees and migrants are already familiar with the universal reach of photos and videos so instead of asking participants to take specific photos, we give them the tools and space to tell their stories of migration, asylum-seeking and placemaking through social media trends they are already familiar with and interested in creating. We will also present the lessons learned and challenges we faced while experimenting with these methodologies such as tensions over knowledge and content co-production in migration research especially regarding creative control, authorship and empowerment.

Authors

• Yvonne Su, York University

• Tyler Valiquette, University College London

• Gerson Scheidweiler, York University