This module aims to equip students with the skills and theoretical knowledge to engage in visual autoethnographic research. Visual methods, particularly photography, often position the researcher as an observer, an individual who creates images of others. This module seeks to reposition the researcher as subject of sociological interest, in effect turning the thoretical, metaphorical and methodological lens back onto themselves. Through a series of workshops, the module aims to

• Provide an overview of autoethnography and autoethnographic photography as it is used in the sociological literature
• Allow students to critically engage with theories of autoethnography and autoethnographic photography
• Encourage students to develop their own style of autoethnographic writing and image-making
• Instill a sense of visual literacy in students
• Provide students with basic knowledge around smartphone photography

(LO1) Students will be able to theorise and situate themselves as a subject of sociological interest within autoethnographic traditions

(LO2) Students will make use of smartphones or similar imaging devices to create sociologically-significant photographs as part of a visual autoethnography

(LO3) Students will possess critical knowledge of the sociological literature on autoethnographic methods

(LO4) Students will have the ability to write autoethnographic narratives situated within areas of sociological interest

(S1) Qualitative research methods

(S2) Digital Photography

(S3) Internationally aware

(S4) Visual Literacy

Autoethnography is a qualitative method that focuses on the self as the subject of research interest. In this module, students will learn about how autoethnography can be conducted through the combination of writing and photography, creating a kind of visual autoethnography. Students will make use of the theoretical and methodological literature around autoethnography, photo-diaries and photography as a research method in order to develop their own sociological photo-diary.

Day 1 Seminar Topics

• What is autoethnography?
• The foundations of autoethnography
• Who are we? A case study
• Photography as a research method
• Photography as used in autobiography / autoethnography
• How to turn the camera towards yourself

Day 2 Seminar Topics

• Peer-supported crit session
• Post-crit Reshoot Session
• Developing a photo-diary in a sociologi cal context

Resources: Students will be provided with a pre-seminar reading list with core, recommended and optional readings. There will also be a collection of video documentaries of photographers who make use of autobiography in their work, and this will also be uploaded to Canvas for viewing before and after the seminars.

Seminars are a mix of taught sessions and problem-based learning sessions. In between the two days of instructions, students will be asked to create a mini photo-diary of three images to share with the class on Day 2, and receive a live formative critique from the lecturer. Once this crit is over, students will have a chance to reshoot and practice during the session.

Teaching Method 1: Seminar

Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 8

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours:

Description: 2 days of 4 hour seminars involving lectures and problem-based learning seminars

Attendance Recorded: Yes