Khacchad:Mule Participatory and Ethnographic Documentary Film
- Submitting institution
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Liverpool John Moores University
- Unit of assessment
- 34 - Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
- Output identifier
- BROWN1
- Type
- Q - Digital or visual media
- Publisher
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- Month
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- Year
- 2018
- URL
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https://vimeo.com/481743569
- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This 83-minute film emerged from research that asked ‘Can participatory and ethnographic filming making methodologies create positive changes to the health and wellbeing of Nepal’s working equines?’ The researcher spent a year journeying and filming with the mules, engaging with the diverse communities through which the mules pass over the course of their lives; including breeders in Northern India, workers in the Kathmandu brick factories and porters in the Himalayan mountains. This was original research because the complete story of Nepal’s working mules had never before been documented as a complete story.
The research process used Paulo Freire’s ‘critical consciousness’ theoretical methodology. The participatory process and the final film acted as a mirror in which equine-handling communities reflected on their use of, and treatment of, their mules. Film screenings were held within participant communities with pre and post-screening focus groups using quantitative and qualitative data collection to measure changes in participant knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards their mules. This directly led to participants creating innovative community action plans for enhanced equine practices.
Ultimately, the film affected change in four key audiences; (1) within participating grassroot communities in Nepal leading to innovative community action plans enhancing equine wellbeing, (2) with government officials in Nepal to enhance policies to protect working equines, (3) with NGO veterinary outreach teams to develop better equine intervention programmes, and (4) to global audiences through film festivals and television broadcast, promoting wider awareness of working-equine issues. The film was officially selected for screening in four film festivals in America and Europe, winning Best in Festival in the International Nature Without Borders Film Festival and a Silver Award for best Documentary Feature at the North American Film Awards 2018. It was broadcast on satellite television across the South Asia region.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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