Research as co-creation – Songing workshop

Session conveners:
Iida Kauhanen, University of Oulu Iida.Kauhanen@oulu.fi
Michelle Franchette-Hermes, University of Oulu
Melinda Russial, University of Oulu

Session description

It is typical that different feminist methodologies recognize that research can be messy, creative, unpredictable and unstable (e.g. Cairns 2013). In this workshop, we are interested in exploring what this can mean and what happens when we break through common barriers of academic performance to focus more on what can be created when we open ourselves to each other by giving space for listening and sharing (Gibbs 2010; Schultz 2018) – how to affect and how to be affected (Brown & Tucker 2010).

Drawing on Indigenous, Black feminist and decolonial literature, this workshop invites you to explore the meaning of co-creation in academia. We invite you to come to this workshop with your ponderings and previous theoretical understandings which we will weave into a format that aims to expand our minds towards creative and collective ways of knowing. The discussion will take form as a song workshop, utilizing a method called songing (lauluttaminen), created by Soiva Siili’s children’s music band. With the songing -method, we will write song lyrics and compose a song together. No musical skills are required for you to be able to participate fully in this workshop. You may bring a small instrument with you, if you wish, but this is not required. The song created during this workshop will be performed during the conference dinner. You may participate in the performance if you wish, but it is not mandatory. No paper presentations need to be submitted, in this workshop we will co-create a presentation.

You will be able to participate in this workshop in any language you wish, however, the instructions will be given in English/Finnish/Swedish depending on the participants’ desire.