A mediated intermedia conversation around the perception and self-perceptions of the San

Abstract

We present an interactive media installation that seeks to provoke a public dialogue in which prevailing stereotypes of the San community are challenged. Although being among the oldest people on earth and the first nation of southern Africa, the San, are extremely marginalized at the present time. Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination are some of the biggest problems the San are struggling with. Drawing on mediated, live perspectives, as well as constructed media, and relevant archival sources, we deconstruct and re-construct an alternative narrative in which a number of urban and rural-based San have actively been involved. Starting with a number of selected media representations of the San, a video elicitation shows perceptions and reactions of the audiences. These in turn have been reviewed by a rural San community, who have co-produced responding and alternative digital narratives. Those recorded mediated video conversation threads are presented at the conference in form of an interactive wall for the audience to explore. Considering that perceptions and perspectives are continuously influenced by the media, past and current San related media reports are infused into the curated video dialogue.