Unit on Visual Methodologies for Social Change

The Visual Methodologies for Social Change Unit has several main purposes:

(1) to advance the study of visual methodologies (photo voice, video documentary, artistic representation, performance, ethical issues and visual evidence, working with visual data) within social action research;
(2) to promote a cultural production approach to media education not only in the context of teacher development but also within community outreach involving youth, community health workers, teachers, etc;
(3) to ensure appropriate training opportunities for staff and students who wish to incorporate visual methodologies into their research.

Based on our work so far we see a strong empowerment component that we would like to study further as part of the whole process of democratizing research through the use of visual modes of inquiry and representation.

The Unit is located in Venue F519 within the Faculty of Education. The space accommodates background material on visual methodologies and visual documentation (visual research data, photo novella posters, posters, photographs, drawings, visual installation material) which is also in the process of being digitalized. It also includes several editing stations, video cameras and inexpensive 'point and shoot' cameras.

Activities of the Unit include:

* Training in digital film making
* Training in photo-voice techniques
* Research seminars involving the study of visual methodologies, visiting speakers on the use of visual data

The Unit responds directly to addressing the needs in Media Education in the School of Language, Literacy, Media and Drama Education. It also responds to the possibilities of incorporating visual methodologies into the various Research Modules and into the research agendas of various research groups in the Faculty.

New Unit at Edgewood, Page 3, UKZNdaba, Vol. 1 No. 8 October, 2004

Photo Gallery