West Adams: Mapping Racialized Space explores the history of the Los Angeles West Adams district, a neighborhood which has been historically tied to issues of systemic racism and oppression. Tension and conflict in the neighborhood have almost always been the result of changing racial demographics. This project rethinks how historical materials, first-person narratives, and photographic representations define the documentary space. Rather than situating the audience in front of a screen, this piece employs a 360-degree cylindrical screen to develop an immersive examination of the history of the West Adams neighborhood. Through presenting public records, historical archives, interviews with community members, and 3D capture, this project aims to educate the public about the legacy and significance of West Adams from a first-person perspective. Giant format video and spatial audio create a sense of immersion that is essential to understanding how larger power structures impact day-to-day life in a community. First-person testimonials are used alongside archival sounds and sampling to develop a chronology of development, prosperity, and loss in West Adams.
