‘Technologies of the self’ – bridging academic theory and practice-based research through Creative Documentary enquiry

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this article, I argue that Foucault's ‘Technologies of the Self’ (1988) provides not only a theoretical framing of how human beings are made subjects, but also how identity and belonging are shaped by structures of power/knowledge and governmentality that impact upon migrant experiences in Glasgow. Citing examples from my documentary film ‘Atlas of Belonging’ (2018), exploring self-inscription and place-making within the Roma communities in Govanhill, I consider how ‘technologies of the self’ illuminates the ways that the ‘performances of everyday life’ [De Certeau, M. 1988. The Practice of Everyday Life. Berkeley and London: University of California Press.] are understood through the interrelated concepts of structure and agency. Intrinsic to this is how hierarchies of power/knowledge as well as governmental controls [Foucault, M. 1988. Technologies of the Self. A Seminar with Michel Foucault. Edited by L. Martin, H. Gutman, and P. Hutton. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.]; [Gordon, C. 1991. “Governmental Rationality: An Iintroduction.” In The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality, edited by G. Burchell, C. Gordon, and P. Miller. Chicago: Chicago University Press.] operate in respect of my own positioning (subjectivity) as a practice-based filmmaker [McIntyre, P. 2012. Creativity and Cultural Production: Issues for Media Practice. London: Palgrave Macmillan.]; [Batty, C., and S. Kerrigan, eds. 2018. Screen Production Research. Creative Practice as a Mode of Enquiry. Palgrave Macmillan. e-book.]; [Candy, L., and E. Edmonds. 2018. “Practice-Based Research in the Creative Arts. Foundations and Futures Ffrom the Front Line.” LEONARDO 5 (1): 63–69.]. Dividing the paper into three sections, using case histories from my Creative Documentary film, I explore how ‘technologies of the self’ illuminates the interconnected themes of; (1) selfhood and identity; (2) the practices of everyday life; (3) strategies and tactics deployed as acts of resistance by the Roma communities in Govanhill. ‘Technologies of the self’ can, therefore, be seen to bridge academic theory and creative enquiry by providing a critical lens to ‘think through’ the challenges of documentary representation and help ‘make sense’ of the polyphony of conflicting voices arising from this ‘contested’ space.