Visual and Oral Narratives of Place and Belonging during Brexit

Abstract

Using visual and oral approaches, this article presents new findings on the social construction of place and belonging in the aftermath of the UK’s Brexit Referendum. Photographs by our British and non-British participants depict everyday life in a seaside town, with rare references to political aspects of migration. In their oral narratives, by contrast, the same participants emphasize the contested nature of belonging, which they associate with Brexit. We argue that the production of distinctly non-contentious photos is a strategy to deal with political uncertainty, reaffirm individuals’ sense of place and belonging, and transform experiences of disruption into hope.