This book incorporates art-based, partnership-oriented inquiry into social justice discourses and advances qualitative research strategies through the medium of three theoretical frameworks: phenomenology, critical ethnographic research, and poststructuralist theories. Maxine Greene's aesthetic theories motivated to create the ARtS initiative and the author explores the possibility of enhancing children’s understanding of active citizenship and community. It illustrates narratives from children in an urban context while they developed a sense of constructive community and active citizenship in an afterschool program called the ARtS (aesthetic, reflexive thoughts, & sharing) initiative.
As a qualitative methodology text,
Three Approaches to Qualitative Research through the ARtS explicates theoretical tenets and research strategies in art-based research. This book shows three examples of how to connect a theoretical framework with the analysis of ethnographic data. A nexus between theory and practice enables researchers and practitioners to understand the value of aesthetic-inspired programs to foster democratic citizenship and to advance equity issues. Social justice-oriented teacher educators, qualitative researchers, and artists will explore and learn how the ARtS initiative recognizes the power of art and multiple research methodologies in imagining and representing a community differently and advancing social justice in a challenging time.
Seungho Moon, Ed.D. (2011), is Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago. He received his Ed.D. in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. He published many articles on cross-cultural conversation between East-West, curriculum theorizing, and art-based, qualitative inquiry.
Acknowledgements List of Illustrations
Introduction Imagination and the Aesthetic Experience
What Is the Arts Initiative?
Methodological Groundings of This Book
Organization of This Book
Chapter 1: Three Theoretical Approaches to the Arts: Where Our Conversation Begins Where to Start
Phenomenological Inquiry
Critical Ethnographic Research
Poststructuralist Theories
Methodological Inquiry Questions
Chapter 2: Heart Is Active Citizenship Metaphors in Phenomenology
Heart and Active Citizenship
The Heart of the Arts: Images of Partnership
Chapter 3: Active Citizenship Is a Shout-Out Active Citizenship, Solidarity, and Social Change
Vignettes of the Field: From Critical Ethnographic Research Perspectives
Further Considerations
Chapter 4: The Arts Community without Community The “How” of the Cultural Experience in the Arts
Thinking with Theories and Theories with Thinking
The Concept of Community without Community
Community of Interrelationality
Multiplicities of Community
Community without Community and Social Transformation
Chapter 5: The Arts, Social Justice, & Research Methodology Issue 1: Open-Ended Inquiry in the Arts
Issue 2: Arts and Equity Issues
Issue 3: Community and Partnership
Issue 4: Towards Methodological Imagination
Active Citizenship and Metaphors
Appendix References Index
Social justice-oriented teacher educators, qualitative researchers, advanced undergraduate/ graduate students, and artists concerned with the issues of democratic citizenship, community, art-based inquiry, and qualitative research.