Abstract
The life stories of migrants are increasingly being told, as part of the work of
cultural organizations, and websites are well suited to making such life story
projects accessible to the public. However, by using the lives of real people as raw
material in a public forum, Web projects raise important questions about the
terms on which participants are given a voice. This article focuses on a Danish
website which depicts the life stories of migrant men through written texts, audio
clips, and photographs. It presents a detailed analysis of the life story of one
young man from a Muslim background who has openly declared himself an
atheist. The article examines his experience of having this somewhat sensitive
story made public. The religious aspect inevitably positioned his story in relation
to broader political debates about Muslims in Denmark. Since migrants’ stories
often touch on highly politicized issues, it is crucial that their stories are not
co-opted by societal discourses which they do not themselves support.
cultural organizations, and websites are well suited to making such life story
projects accessible to the public. However, by using the lives of real people as raw
material in a public forum, Web projects raise important questions about the
terms on which participants are given a voice. This article focuses on a Danish
website which depicts the life stories of migrant men through written texts, audio
clips, and photographs. It presents a detailed analysis of the life story of one
young man from a Muslim background who has openly declared himself an
atheist. The article examines his experience of having this somewhat sensitive
story made public. The religious aspect inevitably positioned his story in relation
to broader political debates about Muslims in Denmark. Since migrants’ stories
often touch on highly politicized issues, it is crucial that their stories are not
co-opted by societal discourses which they do not themselves support.
| Bidragets oversatte titel | Migranters livsfortællinger og Webmediet: oplevelsen af at få offentliggjort sin livshistorie |
|---|---|
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
| Tidsskrift | Social Semiotics |
| Vol/bind | 23 |
| Udgave nummer | 3 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 368-384 |
| ISSN | 1035-0330 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2013 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |