Biography.art: Questions About the Ethical Handling of Personal Stories
Biografie.art questions, examines and illuminates artistic collaborations that incorporate documentary and biographical material; it thematises hierarchies and explores ethical obligations in artistic projects. What are the reasons for working biographically and how? What guidelines apply when dealing with third-party stories? How do I create an appreciative and ethically responsible approach to the stories I share? And how do I deal with eyewitnesses, victims or actors? Relationship work in documentary and biographical work is the main focus.
What does this tool include?
The website offers reports on findings and experiences, questions approaches and encourages ethical reflection and action. Artistic projects are organised by phase. This provides an opportunity to reflect on one’s own artistic perspective through the experiences of other artists, story sharers and assessments from trauma therapy, investigative journalism and social anthropology. A working document is also freely available, which can be used to agree on a common work approach and ethical guidelines with all project participants. If you would like to delve even deeper, you can contact the Biografie.art team for workshops, coaching or discussion formats or similar.
The working document will initially be available for download in German starting in June 2025.
Tags
#ethical questions
#ethics
#fair-practice
#guidelines
#self-questioning #biography #biography-art
#documentary-theatre #documentary-film #trust #exchange-of-experiences #relationship work
For whom is this tool?
For all those who work (auto)biographically and who share their own or others’ stories as part of an artistic project. The project survey tool offers illustrative examples and space for self-exploration and strategic questioning for both project managers and project participants. It also lends itself to relationship work in documentary projects in the performing arts, such as documentary film.
Why is this tool needed?
To give all project participants trust, security, agreement and a feeling of appreciation. Personal stories, in particular, want to be in good hands. People want to feel accurately represented, and anyone working with such material is happy to have binding guidelines and ethical credentials that give all involved employees ethically responsible room for manoeuvre.
Impressum
Ownership:
Dennis Schwabenland, director and actor, and Katja Zellweger, cultural journalist and Germanist, are behind Biografie.art. Dramaturgical advice from director and playwright Anna Papst, production management by Ramun Bernetta.
Contact:
Info@biografie.art