Full text loading...
Diaspora communities in displacement often hold onto objects that they cherish because they contain memories, expressions and ways of life deeply embedded in their culture of origin. This project investigates animation-making with these objects, deploying a participatory approach, and attempts to create a space for memories attached to these objects to be recollected and come to life. Stop-motion can bring life into familiar everyday objects through sequential photography and manipulation. The physical alteration of the objects and the familiarity of tangible items trigger memories in the viewers that appeal to their past experiences. This article reflects on two participatory stop-motion animation workshops with members of the Armenian diaspora community, deploying an auto-ethnographic research method. It was learned that the workshops involved participants in distinct ways with the memories associated with their personal objects. Moreover, the context of the workshop created an opportunity for these memories to be cared for, which shaped a sense of community.