Participatory Visual Ethnography,
Visual Activism and Community Development
in the Rocinha Favela.
Vincent O’Brien Flavio Wittlin

‘Expert’ Research

‘Expert’ Research
Researcher

‘Expert’ Research
Researcher
Target
Population

‘Expert’ Research
Researcher
Target
Subjects
Population

‘Expert’ Research
Target
Researcher
Population

‘Expert’ Research
Target
Researcher
Population
Analyse

‘Expert’ Research
Interpret
Target
Researcher
Population
Analyse

‘Expert’ Research
Interpret
Target
Researcher Disseminate
Population
Analyse

‘Expert’ Research
Experts
Interpret
Target
Researcher Disseminate
Population
Analyse

‘Expert’ Research
Experts
Interpret
Target
Researcher Disseminate Policy Makers
Population
Analyse

‘Expert’ Research
Experts
Interpret
Target
Researcher Disseminate Policy Makers
Population
Analyse
Providers

Participatory Research
Researcher
Focus
Participant

Participatory Research
Researcher
Focus Analysis
Participant

Participatory Research
Dissemination
Researcher
Focus Analysis
Participant
Dissemination

Participatory Research
Dissemination
Researcher
Action
Focus Analysis
Participant
Dissemination

Why use visual
methods?
• Visual representation is embedded within all
human societies
• Visual communication complements verbal and
textual communication
• Provide a rich source of data, not recordable
in other forms
• ‘Expose’ author and researcher perspectives

Cultural

Capture

Visibility Capture

Visibility Capture
Dialogue

Visibility Capture Expertise
Dialogue

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses
$5m per month drug trade

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses
$5m per month drug trade
Migrant population

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses
$5m per month drug trade
Migrant population
Literacy - 66%

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses
$5m per month drug trade
Migrant population
Literacy - 66%
Income - $25 per month

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Population 150,000- 200,000
(est.)
60,000 Houses
$5m per month drug trade
Migrant population
Literacy - 66%
Income - $25 per month
Violence between drug gangs and
Police

Rat Infestation

Visual Activism

Visual Activism
• Construction
• requires reflexive engagement
• facilitates personal change
• encourages collaborative analysis and raises
awareness of community issues

Visual Activism
• Construction
• requires reflexive engagement
• facilitates personal change
• encourages collaborative analysis and raises
awareness of community issues
Dissemination
• encourages community debate
• contested interpretation of issues
• informs and supports social advocacy

Visual Activism
• Construction
• requires reflexive engagement
• facilitates personal change
• encourages collaborative analysis and raises
awareness of community issues
Dissemination
• encourages community debate
• contested interpretation of issues
• informs and supports social advocacy
Sustainability
• develops reflexive research and analytical skills
• participatory, collaborative, personal and community
development
• creative public outputs can raise income to support
development