The 9th International Anti-Corruption Conference
Abstracts of presentations
Day 3, Workshop 9
Eshuchi, Rufus :
Puppetry: Raising Awareness In Kenya
The paper describes how the Community Health Awareness Puppeteers
(CHAPS) have used puppetry as a means of communicating
developmental messages. It helps to break down racial, social
and political barriers. It is often possible to speak of
controversial topics more easily through puppets than through
live actors. Furthermore, puppets are less expensive than full
time actors. The process through which communities are involved
in puppetry through training is explored.
Madada, S.K. :
Raising Public Awareness: The Role of the Creative Arts
The presentation introduces the work of the International Anti-
Corruption Theatrical Movement (IATM) in Uganda in raising
awareness of corruption issues. IATM believes that artistic
creativity is the basis for human economic development, since it
originates from the deeper insights of man about their society.
Arts can play a central role in communicating across barriers of
language and culture. Theatre, dance, mime and other forms of art
are especially suited for raising awareness among populations who
are mainly illiterate and uninformed about their human rights,
the obligations of the state for their welfare and their role as
citizens. The paper lists several reasons why theatre is an
effective medium of communication, and also notes some of its
limitations. A series of general recommendations for the
improvement of theatre for development and anti-corruption work
are made. Finally, the IATM action plan for 1999-2002 is
summarised.
Packalén, Leif :
Comic Art: Targeting Developed and Developing Communities / the Use of Comics
Comics are one of many ways for NGO activists to communicate
complicated, sometimes sensitive, information about civic issues.
In order to be effective, comics must be created locally. If
comics are culturally incorrect they can easily convey wrong
messages. The main reason for using comics as a medium of
communication is that it draws attention and interest of
virtually all audiences by dramatising of the message. It is also
cost effective and simple to generate. Its non-aggressive nature
makes it possible to address sensitive issues, including
political ones such as corruption.
Zulu, Ben :
Raising Public Awareness: The Role of the Creative Arts Corruption: A Growing Concern
The presentation is based on a training video produced for the
Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management
(ZIPAM). It illustrates of how the creative arts can be used to
raise public awareness on issues relating to corruption. The
challenge is how to make corruption understood in all its
dimensions, particularly the social, political and cultural
contexts. Studies have shown that audio-visual media, like other
art, are good when they make reference to the particular context
of their audiences by drawing on shared socio-historical
background. In this way, the audio-visual media may serve as a
vehicle for binding people together by representing the common
memory of the past, how people understand and interpret their
ordinary lives and a common representation of what people would
collectively wish to become. Specifically, film and video respond
to, and indirectly represent, the social, cultural and political
changes and the concerns these arouse in people and how they
behave as they go about their daily lives.