Responsible Storytelling
What It Means in Practice
Mikaela Martinez, M.Martinez Photo - Artist: Power & Practices
Portand, Oregon, USA
Geared towards media creators, this interactive responsible storytelling workshop uses writing exercises and group activities to explore core values, positionality, and motivation. The workshop fosters a deeper understanding of ethical practices and trauma-informed storytelling while building community and encouraging creators to reflect on their current practices and develop new ones.
Session Description
DEI was never enough to ensure that visual creators authentically and ethically told the stories of the global majority. Research shows that more than 70% of photographers and filmmakers identify as white, and colonial ideas shape many of today's industry practices.
Responsible storytelling is a practice that starts with the creator. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned storyteller or a budding artist, this workshop will offer responsible practices that can be used immediately.
During this workshop, participants will identify their core values to understand how these beliefs shape their priorities as storytellers and delve into the vital connection between values and ethics. Throughout the workshop, participants will collaborate in inclusive discussions and group activities to share ethical practices and to brainstorm and develop strategies for integrating trauma-informed principles into their storytelling efforts. Participants will engage in a writing exercise that explores their relationship to power and discuss positionality and motivation within ethical storytelling.
Responsible storytelling is a journey; even when you think you've arrived, there is still so much to learn. This experience is one way of building a global community of mindful storytellers who are aware of their power and impact they have.
Presenter Bio
Mika Martinez (born 1982) is a Chicana artist and educator living in Portland, Oregon. Born in Southern California, Mika spent her early years living on Army bases around the world before her family settled in the Pacific Northwest. Her relationship with visual storytelling began with a desire to see the experiences and expressions of her friends, family, and life authentically reflected in media.
A predominantly self-taught artist, Mika started exploring photography as a young adult with borrowed gear and began her career as the picture lady for Lifetouch School Studios. Today, her practice focuses on ethical storytelling, identity, and expanding ideas of possibility through education and visual media.
Mika is an evolving artist who constantly seeks to deepen her understanding of her craft and its impact on others. Her practice as an educator and storyteller is guided by trauma-informed principles, which she has gained through personal experience and study. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, she connects with global organizations and creators who aim to transform how media is produced and stories are told. As a facilitator of learning and a lifelong student, Mika passionately shares her insights, experiences, and enthusiasm for storytelling with creators from all backgrounds and mediums.
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