PhD Oral Exam - Manuela Ochoa Ronderos, Humanities

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

Can you hear the trees talking? is a research-creation project developed in collaboration with Comunidad, a musician and cultural leader from Tumaco, Colombia. It stems from the research question: How to listen -effectively and with care- to survivors of sociopolitical violence while collaborating on a creative work based on their life story? The project proposes and analyzes an oral history and art-based methodology for conducting dialogical interviews while drawing trees. Initial curiosity about Comunidad's experiences linked with his forced displacement prompted interviews and experimentation with drawing, aiming to foster a sense of comfort and safety. As the project evolved, the motivation expanded to understanding how our differing social, racial, gender, and cultural contexts have shaped our experiences of the armed conflict in Colombia.

Through the creation of two audiovisual works, "From the Balso to The Cununo" and "Eucalipto," the project integrates personal, collective, and ancestral stories by centering the symbolic significance of the Balso and Eucalyptus trees in our lives. The findings highlight a transformative shift from one-sided conversations to reciprocal dialogue, fostering a space for trust, mutual curiosity, and creative exchange. The project underscores the role of art as an essential element for transitional justice in a country grappling with the legacies of colonialism, racism, patriarchy, and systemic inequality. It contributes to the broader discourse on the ethics of socially engaged art, emphasizing the importance of listening with care in collaborative artistic processes with survivors of sociopolitical violence.