Research summary

Research area summary

The Social Haunting research area looks at how a history of conflict and social violence affects communities - how they think about their past, present and future and the consequences for the lives of local residents.

It uses the idea of a ‘social haunting’ - feeling the continued presence of the past - to register and amplify community concerns and renew future thinking.

Mainly based in former coalfields in the UK, this is a research partnership that brings together working-class residents with academics, activists, artists, musicians and community partners such as the Co-operative College and Unite Community.

Through ‘ghost lab’ workshops the partnership has studied the 1984-85 miners’ strike and de-industrialisation of the coalfields - attempting to understand how such events remain hidden in plain sight in the daily life of communities, not only as collective traumas but also as recoverable resources of hope.

Ghost labs

What’s a ghost lab?

A ghost lab is a workshop that involves members of a local community examining personal and social aspects of their past, present and future.

The sessions are designed to celebrate the communities taking part - recognising the traumatic effects of de-industrialisation and supporting participants in telling their stories.

Activities aim to be playful and fun, including:

  • community Tarot readings
  • discussing ‘haunted’ objects
  • going on ghost hunting walks
  • performing instant playback theatre
  • writing co-operative poetry
  • creating comic strips and songs

The haunting / ghost theme makes it easier to talk about issues and events that might otherwise prove impossible to document.

350
More than 350 people have taken part in the first 14 ghost labs in de-industrialised communities in England and Wales.
Project estimate
350
More than 350 people have taken part in the first 14 ghost labs in de-industrialised communities in England and Wales.
Project estimate

Projects

Research outputs

Publications

Website

Funding