Abstract
In my paper focusing on family dynamics and biographical narration, particularly mothers, fathers, and siblings, this arts-based research traces family trajectories across generations, offering some understanding of our present selves through the practice of autosociobiographical exploration. I want to introduce the arts-based research method of autosociobiographical exploration that I have predominantly developed for and used in the audio-visual arts to explore (auto-)biographical narration. Autosociobiographies, coined by Annie Ernaux, delve into autobiographies within sociological structures such as social class, gender, nationality, age, time, sexuality, and body.
Over the past five years, including the challenges posed by Covid, at Film Academy Vienna, mdw, I’ve explored cinematic autosociobiographies, drawing from my background in biographical documentary theatre and filmmaking as well as psychology. In four “family” themed cinematic autosociobiography laboratories, I have studied how artistic expressions foster trust and connection within diverse group settings, using arts-based exploration to discuss biographical experiences and societal issues. Autosociobiographical exploration employs techniques like sociological biographical interviews, co-creative focus groups, embodied memories, and artistic translation, predominantly used in audio-visual forms. The goal is to uncover social constructs shaping biographical trajectories and artistic practices, critically contextualizing possibilities and discriminations.
My paper establishes a theoretical foundation for this research practice, builds links to sociological traditions of biographical research and connects to concrete short movies/ artistic artefacts developed in our cinematic laboratories. The paper also provides practical insights into the newly used method of autosociobiographical exploration. Autosociobiographies have the potential to reveal unconscious biases, discriminations, and power hierarchies through artistic expressions. As a group-based artistic research method emphasizing co-creativity and dialogue, it also raises questions about global power hierarchies and advocates for a decolonized artistic practice.