Belonging Through the Lens: Using Film to Explore Diasporic Identity

Author : Emmanuel Johnson

Abstract :This paper reflects on the use of film as a research method to explore migration, belonging, and identity among African student communities. Drawing on my experience as a researcher-filmmaker, I examine how (participatory) film enables underrepresented voices to narrate their experiences within and beyond academic settings. My practice-led work treats the camera as a tool for shared reflection rather than passive observation. The paper considers how film can uncover deeper layers of emotional expression that are often missed in traditional academic texts. Through examples from my creative research, I discuss how film can contribute to everyday negotiations of identity, race, and mobility, and offer a richer understanding of diasporic life in higher education contexts

Keywords :Participatory film, migration, identity, belonging, African students, visual research, diasporic life, higher education, race, researcher-filmmaker

Conference Name :International Conference on Media and Film Studies (ICMFS-25)

Conference Place Nice, France

Conference Date 7th Jul 2025