Exploring Community Narratives Through Murals in Urban Public Spaces

Thesis Abstract

Urban public spaces serve as vital platforms for community identity and collective memory through visual expressions, notably murals, which function as dynamic narratives of local histories, cultures, and social issues. Despite their prevalence, there remains a limited understanding of how murals function as mediums for community storytelling and identity construction, and how they influence residents' perceptions and engagement with their environment. This study aims to explore the role of murals in conveying community narratives within urban contexts, with the specific objectives of identifying thematic content, analyzing community engagement levels, and assessing the impact of murals on residents’ sense of belonging. Employing a qualitative case study research design, the study investigates murals within the metropolitan area of Portsville, focusing on twelve murals across five neighborhoods characterized by diverse socio-economic compositions. The population comprises community residents, mural artists, local government officials, and visitors, with a purposive sample of 150 residents, 15 artists, and 10 officials selected through stratified sampling based on demographic and stakeholder diversity. Data collection employs semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and visual content analysis of murals. To ensure validity and reliability, multiple data sources undergo triangulation, and thematic analysis is utilized to derive recurring themes related to community narratives, cultural identity, and social engagement. Data analysis incorporates qualitative thematic coding supported by NVivo software, with supplementary quantitative measures such as frequency counts of narrative themes and resident engagement levels. The study also applies social representation theory to interpret how murals shape collective memory and community identity, alongside the use of the Diffusion of Innovations theory to understand dissemination and acceptance of mural narratives within and beyond the neighborhoods. The anticipated findings suggest that murals predominantly depict local history, cultural symbols, social struggles, and aspirations, effectively fostering a sense of communal identity and pride. Additionally, murals are expected to serve as catalysts for social cohesion, civic participation, and neighborhood revitalization, with variations influenced by mural content, location, and community involvement. The research further posits that residents with higher engagement levels exhibit greater identification with the community narratives expressed through murals, which in turn enhances their overall sense of belonging. This research contributes to scholarly discourse by elucidating the significance of murals as participatory cultural artifacts that document and promote community narratives, filling gaps related to local contextual analyses of mural-based storytelling. It advances theoretical understanding of visual storytelling's role in social cohesion and collective memory within urban settings. Methodologically, it offers a comprehensive integration of qualitative content analysis and socio-cultural theories to interpret mural symbolism and social impact. Concluding, the study underscores the importance of incorporating community perspectives into mural creation and urban planning processes, recommending policy frameworks that support participatory mural projects aligned with local histories and identities. It advocates for continued research into the long-term social impacts of murals and their potential as tools for community development and historical preservation in diverse urban environments.