How Burcu Caught the Storytelling Bug
In a compelling podcast episode, Burcu Şimşek takes us on an enlightening journey through the transformative power of digital storytelling. As an associate professor at Hacettepe University and the founder of the Digital Story Hub, Burcu is a pioneer in using digital narratives to amplify women's voices and promote gender equality. Her journey began with a groundbreaking PhD thesis that reimagined traditional consciousness-raising meetings for the digital age. This innovative approach has empowered countless women across Turkey, allowing them to share their stories and perspectives in new and impactful ways.
Check out the Digital Story Hub
Digital storytelling is more than just a method of sharing narratives; it is a tool for fostering empathy and understanding. This episode delves into the profound impact digital storytelling has had across various fields, particularly in education and medicine. By incorporating patient and professional narratives into curricula, storytelling becomes a powerful educational tool that bridges diverse perspectives and enhances communication. Burcu's work in integrating digital stories into higher education settings, such as faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, demonstrates the potential of this medium to create meaningful connections and understanding.
The episode also explores the emotional depth uncovered in digital storytelling. Through insights from the International Digital Storytelling Festival listeners gain an understanding of how digital storytelling encourages participants to visually express their innermost emotions. This creative process not only results in powerful narratives but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration among participants. By building emotional connections through shared experiences, digital storytelling transforms lives and connects people across diverse backgrounds.
Some of the digital storytelling facilitators at the 1st International Digital Storytelling Festival in Zakynthos Greece
Burcu's passion for gender issues and her commitment to empowering women through digital storytelling is evident throughout the episode. Her work in enhancing women's participation and well-being in Turkey has been instrumental in prioritizing gender perspectives in various social settings. The episode highlights how digital storytelling workshops serve as a modern form of consciousness-raising meetings, providing a platform for women to express themselves and share their stories with the world.
As we navigate through Burcu's journey, the episode reveals the importance of storytelling in creating empathy and understanding. By bringing together diverse perspectives, digital storytelling fosters a deeper connection among individuals, breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity. This is particularly evident in educational settings, where storytelling is used to enhance communication and empathy among students and professionals.
Episode 27 Key Messages
Meet Burcu (1:12)
Burcu introduces herself as an associate professor at Hacettepe University, founder of the Digital Story Hub, and a story worker focused on gender issues and amplifying women’s voices through digital storytelling workshops.
2. How Burçu Caught the Digital Storytelling Bug (5:37)
Burcu recounts how she discovered digital storytelling during her PhD at Queensland University of Technology, inspired by the book Story Circle. She envisioned integrating digital storytelling into feminist consciousness-raising efforts, leading her to initiate workshops and develop projects centered on women's narratives.
3. Impact of DST on Education and Empathy (14:39)
Burcu discusses using digital storytelling in higher education and medical contexts to create empathy and dialogue between professionals and patients. Workshops and screenings help bridge perspectives and humanize technical professions.
4. Community and Collaboration in DST (20:15)
Burcu emphasizes the importance of creating listening communities through workshops, public screenings, and forums, ensuring the shared stories inspire action and deeper connections within and beyond the storytelling community.
5. Future Aspirations and Reflection (25:17)
Burcu reflects on her sabbatical in Italy, planning her next 10 years, and how she hopes to leverage her experiences. She also appreciates the international digital storytelling community and its collaborative spirit.
In conclusion, this podcast episode is a powerful testament to the transformative power of digital storytelling. Through the work of Burcu and the Digital Story Hub, we see how storytelling can empower individuals, promote gender equality, and foster empathy and understanding across various fields. By connecting diverse perspectives and building emotional connections, digital storytelling is not just about telling tales—it's about transforming lives. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the power of storytelling and its potential to create positive change in the world.
About our Guest
Burcu Şimşek is an associate professor at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Communication, Department of Communication Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. She completed her PhD with a thesis on digital storytelling and feminist activism at the Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, in Australia, in 2012. She has an MSc degree in Women’s Studies from Ankara University and a BA degree in English Language and Literature, from Hacettepe University. She started her career as a journalist in 1998. Since then, she has been involved with storytelling. She is the founder and the coordinator of the Digital Storytelling Unit at Hacettepe University and has facilitated over a hundred digital storytelling workshops in Turkey and abroad with various groups on diverse themes since 2009. Her fields of academic interest are digital storytelling, women’s studies, migration, new media and health communication. She teaches at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs of Communication Sciences as well as Cultural Studies and Media MA Program.
About Co-Created
Co-Created is a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of digital storytelling. On each episode, host Kristy Wolfe dives into conversations with the storytellers and facilitators who bring digital stories to life.
If this particular conversation resonated with you, tell a friend or a colleague about Co-Created or share one of the digital stories we were talking about. You can find the stories here.
Co-Created is presented by Common Language DST, digital storytelling facilitation training for health and wellness changemakers and is supported by the team at Snack Labs.
