A movement in time; A sensory ethnographic exploration into migrants’ experiences of nostalgia and its affect on personal wellbeing

Miguel, Amber (2019) A movement in time; A sensory ethnographic exploration into migrants’ experiences of nostalgia and its affect on personal wellbeing. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The experience of nostalgia is far more than a moment of bittersweet sentiment, as it has long been defined. Within nostalgia lies a meaningful personal signature, one that may be incited in various embodied sensuous practices and utilised within wellbeing. This study aims to explore nostalgic experiences for individuals who have migrated to England, applying a participatory, multi-disciplinary approach utilising sensory-based ethnographic mobile interviews within a myriad of locations, and founded on the roots of psychogeography. The experiences of seven individuals were explored, guided by their preferences engaging with the emplaced sensory nature of their experiences. Data was analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), forming three super-ordinate themes including; ‘Temporal Trajectory and Identity’, ‘Belonging and Attachment’ and ‘Sensory Catalysts’. The participants conceptualised nostalgic experiences not only as naturally occurring but also as channels, connecting their past with both present and future selves. Expressing nostalgia allowed participants to engage in a sense of attachment for their memories both temporally and spatiality, and incited feelings of belonging within spaces and actions that were personally meaningful. Furthermore, various sensory-based explorations provided insight into how nostalgia may be evoked; focusing on auditory, gustatory, olfactory and kinetic senses possessing meaning.