Participatory filmmaking as a decolonial practice A case study with young indigenous peoples from NOPOKI in Atalaya, Peru

Ruiz Zevallos, Jorge Augusto (2025) Participatory filmmaking as a decolonial practice A case study with young indigenous peoples from NOPOKI in Atalaya, Peru. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

This dissertation explores the use of Participatory Visual Methodologies (PVM), specifically filmmaking, as a tool for fostering dialogue and addressing coloniality by challenging power imbalances in the socio-political context of the fieldwork and the academic setting of the research. Conducted alongside young indigenous students at Nopoki University, an intercultural education institution in the Peruvian Amazon, this research examines how participatory filmmaking relates to indigenous identity performances, self-representation, knowledge production and dissemination, and the development of technical and social skills.

In doing so, this research navigates the intersections of indigeneity, cultural diglossia, and power dynamics through a decolonial and intercultural theoretical framework. Building on these theories, the research questions explore the power dynamics within both the fieldwork and academic contexts, the role of filmmaking in shaping participant experiences and contexts, and the compromises inherent in conducting decolonial research within a UK university. The methodology of this research is shaped by the researcher’s positionality and the constant reflexivity required in decolonial projects. Its findings reveal how local contexts, fluid positionalities, and shared knowledge with indigenous participants influenced the research and the researcher, highlighting the balance between academic goals and the lived experiences of the participants.

This dissertation shows that while PVM enables indigenous students to challenge predefined notions of indigeneity it also uncovers barriers related to technological access and the disparity between local stakeholders’ goals and institutional expectations, which influence the sustainability and reach of PVM as a decolonial tool. The emotional and physical toll of decolonial research on both researchers and participants is examined, underscoring the complexities of balancing academic privileges with community engagement. Ultimately, the work reflects on the distances between decolonial research outside and within academia, suggesting that future research should focus on the ethical responsibilities of academia in supporting truly transformative, community-centred projects.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Media, Language and Communication Studies
Depositing User:	Kitty Laine
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2025 13:14
Last Modified:	11 Jun 2025 13:17
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99464
DOI:

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