Using Participatory Visual Methods in the Study of Violence Perceptions and Urban Space in Mexico

The contribution investigates the experience of using visual participatory methods of data collection, auto-pho-tography and community mapping, in the context of urban planning, violence and insecurity problems in Mex-ico. Two case studies examine peripheral communities in the cities of Aguascalientes and Culiacan where differ-ent manifestations of violence are present. The contribution explores the potential of participatory visual meth-ods in capturing perceptions of violence and makes the case for their use in planning processes, as more appro-priate methods are needed to capture perceptions of violence and insecurity in urban areas. The rationale, meth-ods and results of community mapping and auto-photography are discussed, as well as some potential chal-lenges and theoretical limitations.