Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of South Wales (joint submission with Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David)
“Children of God”
Worldwide Broadcast Radio Documentary, BBC World Service
Research Context
This praxis-based research project is built upon a dialogic approach to the form and themes of documentary practice, embracing the notion of praxis – the act of engaging, applying, realizing ideas through a ‘making action’. It emphasises the importance of ‘documentary for use’ and engagement with social reality, lived experience and the human condition, underpinned by flexible approaches to documentary storytelling, modes and forms – an on-going creative agenda to redefine and counter restrictive notions of documentary film practice.
Research Imperatives
“Children of God” builds on a body of research through documentary practice into the nature of childhood. Within this context, a specific focus on child evangelism was previously expressed in two television documentaries: The Hallelujah Kid (BBC 1995) and Everyman: The Hallelujah Kids (1 x 50 minutes, BBC 2001).
Project methods
Whilst the previous works brought the camera to focus on one specific family story with no attempt to place them in their wider historical, social or cultural context, audio documentary was used as a mode of inquiry to research, write and present “Children of God”, exploring key concepts and thematic concerns in a global context, for an international audience.
In the absence of substantial academic research in the field, Morris garnered materials from online sources, discovering testimonies, photographs, out-of-print books that were crucial to the research process. Extensive primary research included interviews with current child evangelists. Morris located and used historic accounts and interviewed academics in religious studies. He also undertook a formal literature review and analysis of out-of-print materials, news/magazine articles, photographs and online testimonies. YouTube and online portals such as vimeo and facebook offer a pulpit for child preachers from many religions, and these were valuable additions to the research process.
Dissemination
The programme was broadcast twice on the BBC World Service in 2009.
