Transformative Encounters? Racism and the Sonic Representation of Stephen Lawrence's Story

Conference presentation


Aziz, T. (2021). Transformative Encounters? Racism and the Sonic Representation of Stephen Lawrence's Story. International Digital Storytelling Conference. Loughborough University (online) 21 - 22 Jun 2021
AuthorsAziz, T.
TypeConference presentation
Abstract

This presentation explores the role that digital storytelling can play in engaging young people in a dialogue about racism in contemporary life by revisiting the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993. Focusing on an exhibition of the multi-channel, sound-only installation, [re]locate, at the Otter Gallery (University of Chichester) in late 2015, and the accompanying learning programme undertaken with Year 9 pupils from local secondary schools, the paper reflects on the analysis of qualitative feedback elicited from pupils following their encounter with the artwork. Using an analytical framework of thematic analysis and the dimensions of narrative engagement proposed by Busselle and Bilandzic (2009), it examines the benefits of using an ‘immersive’ sound-only story environment to promote dialogue about the impact of racism, discrimination and stereotyping in society. It concludes by pointing towards the transformative and educative power of the artwork, and its potential to act as a catalyst for social activism: motivating young people to become proactive in tackling racism in their schools and community spaces.

Keywordsdigital storytelling, surround sound, audience engagement, anti-racism, social justice, installation art
Year2021
Web address (URL)https://storytellingacademy.education/dst2021-conference-announcement-24-hour-online-marathon-in-june/
Accepted author manuscript
File description
Presentation slides
Publication dates
Print18 Jun 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Jun 2021
Deposited03 Dec 2021
Web address (URL) of conference proceedingshttps://learninglab.si.edu/collections/dst-conference-2021-storytelling-for-a-just-future/tLGZOyx3b4vsUP9i
Additional information

[re]locate is a multi-speaker sound-only installation revisiting the Stephen Lawrence case, as framed by the media and public debates associated with the Stephen Lawrence Public Inquiry (Macpherson Report). The installation is a culmination of earlier AHRC-funded practice-led research, in which sound, storytelling and computer-mediated technology were used to find new and innovative ways to encourage an audience to re-examine the complex and multi-layered narratives associated with the case. The installation, together with an accompanying visual display, was produced with funding from the Arts Council of England.

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https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/8ywx0

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Related outputs

Immersive Audio Storytelling: An Exploration of the Potential of Spatial (Multi-channel) Audio to Represent Stephen Lawrence’s Story
Aziz, T. (2023). Immersive Audio Storytelling: An Exploration of the Potential of Spatial (Multi-channel) Audio to Represent Stephen Lawrence’s Story. International Journal of Creative Media Research.
Racism and the Representation of the Murder of Stephen Lawrence in Audio: An Analysis of Audience Experience of the Immersive Story Environment
Aziz, T. (2023). Racism and the Representation of the Murder of Stephen Lawrence in Audio: An Analysis of Audience Experience of the Immersive Story Environment. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231203105
[re]locate (binaural mix): Racism and the Sonic Representation of Stephen Lawrence's Story
Aziz, T. (2022). [re]locate (binaural mix): Racism and the Sonic Representation of Stephen Lawrence's Story. Immersive Audio Conference - Everyday is Spatial. University of Gloucestershire 16 - 16 Jun 2022 University of Gloucester.
Designing an 'Immersive' Story Environment: Racism and the Sonic Representation of the Stephen Lawrence Murder
Aziz, T. (2019). Designing an 'Immersive' Story Environment: Racism and the Sonic Representation of the Stephen Lawrence Murder. DIGICOM: International Conference on Design and Digital Communication. Barcelos, Portugal 15 - 16 Nov 2019
Post-screen experiments [Editorial Introduction]
Aziz, T and Hammond, P (2017). Post-screen experiments [Editorial Introduction]. Journal of Media Practice. 18 (1), pp. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1080/14682753.2017.1308745
[re]locate
Aziz, T. (2015). [re]locate. Otter Gallery, University of Chichester 09 Oct - 06 Dec 2015