Artist-educators’ experiences with identity and representation in theatre arts learning spaces

Carpenter, Bonnie Educational institutions struggle to find balance between free speech, academic freedom, and the advancement of representation and identity, specifically in theatre programs and arts communities. Artist–educators seem ill-equipped to confront the complexity found with issues of bias, identity, representation, and cultural appropriation within their learning spaces or to facilitate the necessary discourse to contextualize these provocative issues. The goals of this research focus on understanding artist–educators’ current experiences in theatre learning spaces concerning identity and representation, exposing potential patterns, and supporting the future foundations and frameworks that advance multicultural theatre arts spaces. Utilizing Constructivist Grounded Theory, several key findings emerged including an inconsistent understanding of identity and representation coupled with a wide variety of perceived preparedness to support conversations in the learning spaces. The research validates the need for continued conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and a greater awareness concerning one’s own identity with how it is presented in theatre learning spaces from both the leader and student–artist perspective. Recognizing the inconsistency in language usage and the lack of clarity about identity and representation issues illustrates a chasm in ability to effectively talk about identity. Readers are charged to take action within their communities to build awareness, provoke conversation, and cultivate relationships that allow for authentic dialogue in order to confront the difficult uncomfortable spaces between our differences, understand that our existence is individualized and unique, and honor and celebrate the overwhelming similarities that we share as human beings.

Grantor dc:publisher

Alverno College

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Carpenter, Bonnie

• Theater--Study and teaching
• Identity (Philosophical concept)
• Grounded theory
• DEI
• Theatre education
• Representation

Statement dc:rights

• These materials may be used by individuals and libraries for personal use, research, teaching (including distribution to classes), or for any fair use as defined by U.S. Copyright Law.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://alverno.omeka.net/items/show/895

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:alverno.omeka.net:895