Arts-Based Research for Global Community Engagement: Showcasing the Development and Application of the FotoDialogo Method

Group Submission Type: Workshop

Description of Session

This workshop provides an immersive introduction to the FotoDialogo Method, an arts-based research (ABR) approach that uses oral history and visual storytelling to promote dialogue and empower marginalized communities. ABR techniques, such as photovoice, graffiti, body sculptures, and drama, enable participants to express complex emotions non-verbally, encouraging deeper reflection. Participants will explore the key components of ABR, how it differs from other participatory research methods, and the challenges of documenting and sharing findings within traditional academic contexts. The workshop will also highlight the benefits of ABR for community engagement, fostering dialogue, and uncovering hidden meanings in community issues.
ABR integrates artistic methods to explore personal experiences through sensory, emotional, and intellectual responses. This approach amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced or underrepresented, capturing nuances beyond verbal communication. The overlap between data collection and analysis, through methods like image theatre and storytelling, encourages collaborative interpretation and challenges traditional linear research approaches.
Workshop Goals:
1. Introduce ABR and its unique role in capturing complex, multi-sensory experiences.
2. Discuss the challenges of documenting ABR findings within academic frameworks.
3. Examine how ABR tools engage communities, reveal hidden meanings, and foster social change.

The FotoDialogo Method:
The FotoDialogo Method is a qualitative research tool grounded in participatory research principles. It uses oral history and visual storytelling to empower marginalized women of color and migrants in inner-city settings in the U.S. (Ramos, 1999, 2007, 2009). FotoDialogo helps participants express their experiences, and collaboratively identify issues affecting their communities by using pictures and storytelling.
Core Principles of FotoDialogo:
1. Self-expression: Encouraging participants to share life experiences and identify problems.
2. Cross-cultural understanding: Facilitating dialogue and comprehension of cultural issues.
3. Critical consciousness: Promoting discussions on social issues, fostering awareness and alternative solutions.
4. Perception assessment: Evaluating participants' perceptions of social reality, including needs, beliefs, and values.
5. Support group creation: Building social networks among participants with shared experiences.
The method uses 30 black-and-white drawings inspired by real-life stories from inner-city women of color. These drawings prompt participants to create narratives and reflect on their experiences.
Theoretical Foundations:
• Freire’s Thematic Investigation: Promotes critical education through examining language and perceptions and using culturally adapted drawings or ‘codifications’ to initiate adult literacy programs in Brazil (Freire, 1971–2000).
• Murray’s Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): A projective technique using black and white drawings to assess attitudes and perceptions during the psychiatric interview (Murray, 1938–1951).
By integrating these frameworks, FotoDialogo fosters self-examination and critical reflection, encouraging empowerment through self-awareness.
Workshop Structure:
Participants will explore the global application of the FotoDialogo Method and other arts-based research (ABR) tools, particularly in cross-cultural contexts involving community engagement, health advocacy, and social change. The workshop will combine theoretical insights, practical applications, and reflective discussions. Case studies, including "Training Graphic Designers in Somalia to Develop Health Education Materials on Female Genital Cutting" and "Using Photovoice in Malawi to Challenge Post-Pregnancy Schooling Narratives," as well as examples from multicultural communities in the U.S., will be presented. This will be followed by an interactive activity where participants will apply the core principles of FotoDialogo.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the session, participants will:
• Understand how to integrate ABR into their community-based work.
• Use creative mediums to promote social inclusion and engagement.
• Apply and amplify the FotoDialogo Method to enhance cross-cultural understanding and empower marginalized voices in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and image creation.
The workshop will be interactive, with discussions, activities, and active audience participation. Presenters bring diverse expertise in education, social work, community development, and arts-based research, offering a well-rounded exploration of ABR methods in a global context.

Sub Unit

• Book launches and Workshops / Workshop

Chair

• Flavia S. Ramos-Mattoussi, Florida State University

Workshop Organizer

• Flavia S. Ramos-Mattoussi, Florida State University

Presenter

• Pempho Chinkondenji, University of North Dakota

Discussant

• Jeongmin Lee, University of Notre Dame