Beyond the Wounds of the Fall: Exploring New Positions of Communication for Social Change through disciplinary disruptions

Abstract

This research article explores alternative epistemological perspectives in the context of communication for social change (CfSC), drawing on ethnographic research findings from Jana Sanskriti’s 'Theatre of the Oppressed' practice in West Bengal, India. The study challenges conventional approaches to development and social justice and aligns with radical ideas proposed by scholars such as Boaventura de Sousa Santos (2014) and Avijit Pathak (1998). The article advocates for a departure from reactive stances and calls for an epistemological shift to foster a holistic understanding of development and social change. The article highlights some overlooked aspects in the field of communication for social change, emphasising the need to identify and explore potential blind spots that may have been neglected but play a significant role in the social change processes. Uncovering these aspects can enrich the field by understanding their potentialities. The article advocates for unlocking unconventional ideas, such as integrating spirituality with academics, often suppressed within academic norms. It calls for a space that transcends the fear of disqualification, proposing a new position and role for CfSC. Moving beyond its conventional supportive and apologetic role in development and social change practices, this shift signifies a radical leap and emancipation for the field itself. Such a radical approach aligns with the contemporary push for social justice through cognitive justice.