Can we study participatory video within film studies? A succinct approach

Abstract

Participatory Video (PV) have been widely used by activists and filmmakers for almost thirty years. But the debate concerning its nature has not penetrated yet in academic discussions. The few theoretical works that already exist point out the role of PV as a process for capacity-building and community empowerment, but obliterate its importance as a specific form of audiovisual product. The aim of this article is therefore demonstrating, through filmic analysis of several PV developed by local organizations, that these videos produced by communities can be considered as filmic objects and conceptualized into the Film Studies field. Moreover, the article sets out to redefine Nichols participatory mode of representation to avoid the theoretical exclusion it supposes towards collectively produced videos.