Katharina Farys

Image Credit: © Katharina Farys

International Research Training Group "Between Spaces"

Movements, Actors and Representations of Globalisation

PhD Candidate

Project: “Who we were, who we are, and who we want to be - Self-perceptions and representations of the inhabitants of the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul, Mexico"”

Address

Boltzmannstr. 4
14195 Berlin

k.farys@fu-berlin.de

Since 01/2013	Doctoral student at the International Research Training Group “Between Spaces"
03/2006 - 07/2012	Pre-colonial studies and Ethnology of the Americas, Political Science and Romance languages and literature at the Rheinische Friedrich - Wilhelms - University of Bonn Thesis: "Strategies for land use in indigenous communities in the lattice of heterogeneous interests: organizational structures and communication channels in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico"
10/2007 - 12/2012	Research Assistant in the Department of Pre-colonial studies and Anthropology of the Americas
11/2009 - 04/2010	Scholarship from the "German Academic Exchange Service" - DAAD. Field research in the state of Campeche in four indigenous communities (including chol, tzeltal, maya-Yucateco)
01/2008 - 12/2010	Scholarship from the IFP (Institute for promotion journalistic young people) Three-years study-related training in print, radio and television
08/2007 - 10/2007	Field research in Maní (Yucatan) on "The influence of the media on language and culture of the maya". Cooperation with radio stations XEPET in Peto and Yóol lik in Merida

"'Who we were, who we are, and who we want to be' - Self-perceptions and representations of the inhabitants of the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul, Mexico"

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ingrid Kummels (Freie Universität Berlin)

The PhD project "Who we were, who we are, and who we want to be - Self-perceptions and representations of the inhabitants of the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul, Mexico" is located in the IRTG research area "Spaces of Representation". In particular, it focuses on the life stories of selected representatives of certain communities of Calakmul. Further attention will be paid to the internal and external use of modern media to represent this region. The project also examines what kinds of identity constructions exist within and outside of the communities. The aim will be to elaborate on the individuals’ self-understanding, and to reveal who holds the power of representation and how that power is used. A starting point of the research is the assumption that the inhabitants of Calakmul are searching for their common identity due to their migration experiences and the associated changes in living conditions. The media has covered efforts of certain community members in the field of eco-tourism, archaeological projects, and international programs for sustainable development. The resulting images create interpretations of reality, which do not always coincide with the actual living situation and self-perception of the residents. Methodologically based on a qualitative approach, the study is divided into three steps. While doing field research, the life stories of several families (oral history) will be recorded and analysed. The current state of media representation will then be surveyed. Finally, the results will be discussed and analysed together with the residents.

Throughout the entire research project, observations and in-depth interviews will be captured on film. Thereby my own methods of representation and its content shall be constantly questioned. After the dissertation’s completion, the material is to be used for a documentary as well as for exhibitions in local museums.

(2011), 'Organización campesina entre el desarrollo rural y la conservación de la selva de Calakmul', in: Bolívar Fernández, Nidelvia (eds.) Trabajos en extenso. II Congreso Internacional en Patrimonio y Desarrollo Sustentable. 30 de noviembre a 3 de diciembre de 2010. San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche. Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca. Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, p. 69-74.