Researching the Images of Evil Events: An Arts-Based Methodology in Liminal Space

Abstract

This article explores an arts-based methodology for nonparticipant researchers to engage potentially overwhelming images of evil events. Nonparticipants in evil events such as genocide must access and stay engaged with images of these events to take informed action in the world. Linear discourse and historical facts do not adequately convey this disturbing material. Images are accessible to researchers in liminal space: the space between historical facts and our imagination. Through artfully collecting this data in liminal space, researchers maintain an active presence in the inquiry. The images themselves are researchers’ coparticipants, bringing researchers important information. Researchers can, through their own art practice, then shape the encounter into a creative act for their communities. An arts-based methodology in liminal space, in addition to providing a containing methodology for the difficult experience of researchers into evil events, offers an epistemology for creating new knowledge.