Zulfiya Hamzaki

Thesis

Thesis Title & Description

Enabling self-representation of refugee voices in British society through novel interactive documentary storytelling.

• Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Hook and Dr Marta Herrero

My PhD will investigate how interactive documentary, also called the “i-Doc” can be a tool for refugees to represent themselves. Using practice-based, co-creative filmmaking, it will develop an i-Doc platform where refugees can share their voices during their resettlement experience. While existing research about refugees provides quantitative data, it lacks the qualitative understanding of their lived experiences. External authority sources such as politicians and NGOs speak on their behalf, often failing to give them a voice. My research will use practice based methodologies to generate new knowledge around the lived experiences of refugees and uncover the possibilities of new interactive media forms in enabling inclusive storytelling processes. Unlike linear films, the i-Doc’s non-linear quality gives it an evolving form that can transform depending on user input, making it a powerful medium of self-expression and mobilization. While these properties of the i-Docs suggest its promising potential as a way to richly represent refugee voices, it is not yet understood how this can be achieved, considering the form, methods, application and challenges of using such technology. The research will address this knowledge gap, offering a new form of engagement between refugees and the public, contributing to the understanding of how i-Docs can be an impactful social tool in refugee integration.