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Crime and Art pp 63–78Cite as

Evaluating the Transformative Potential of Photovoice for Research into the Global Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects

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Part of the book series: Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market ((SAHLM,volume 1))

Abstract

Criminologists are increasingly considering ‘the visual’ within their research, both as objects of study and through the use of visual methodologies. Within this trend, Photovoice provides an innovative, collaborative, and empowering visual research method that allows for in-depth engagement with lived experiences, particularly with underrepresented and previously ‘unseen’ communities, with the intention to foster social change. Photovoice relies on meaningful collaboration between researchers and stakeholders, so that the research is co-created between researchers and participants, therefore democratising the knowledge generation and exchange process. This chapter considers the use and potential effectiveness of Photovoice as a visual research method to further our understanding of art crime. It is argued that criminological enquiry into the illicit trade of cultural objects would benefit from utilising Photovoice to shed light on un(der)represented perspectives and lived experiences to better inform the debate around the production, protection, trade and ownership of cultural objects.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Please note: pseudonyms are used throughout this chapter to protect the identity of participants.

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Acknowledgements

This fieldwork was supported by the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Funding Council through the Global Challenges Research Fund. I wish to thank the individuals and organisations who generously shared their time, experience and perspectives for the purposes of this project.

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  1. Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Emiline Smith

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  1. Emiline Smith
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  1. Department of Arts & Culture Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Naomi Oosterman

  2. Criminal Law and Criminology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Donna Yates

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Smith, E. (2021). Evaluating the Transformative Potential of Photovoice for Research into the Global Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects. In: Oosterman, N., Yates, D. (eds) Crime and Art. Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84856-9_5

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