Ethics in Research-Based Theater: Why Stories Matter

Cox, Susan; Guillemin, Marilys; Nichols, Jennica; Prendergast, Monica

doi:10.1177/10778004221097641

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…RbT is a broad and diverse field that draws upon theatre and research practices to engage artists, researchers, and audiences, both affectively and cognitively (Lea and Belliveau 2020). While approaches to RbT vary enormously, projects are generally anchored in a commitment to honouring the contributions of research participants and the stories they generously share (Cox et al 2023). The field of RbT is best considered as a continuum, delineated by three principal approaches: playwright-centred, collective, and composite, the latter combining elements of both playwright and collective approaches (Lea and Belliveau 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performing Yuánfèn: An Exploration of Untranslatable Words in the Lacunae Project

Piazzoli,

Corderi Novoa,

Hogan

2023

Arts

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In this paper, we discuss a collaborative research project called Lacunae: Embodying the Untranslatable. The issue of untranslatability has been a much-discussed topic in translation studies, with recent debate linking it to performability. Although untranslatability has received some attention lately, the debate has been largely theoretical, confined to a textual conception of translation. In the study discussed in this article, we explored an applied approach to (un)translatability, working with/through the body in space, positing the body as the vehicle for deciphering the untranslatable. We draw on an embodied way of knowing as a phenomenological framework to construct knowledge as lived experience. The study aimed to investigate the lexical, intercultural, and aesthetic potential of performing untranslatability by exploring a series of untranslatable words through research-based theatre. The data generation process involved a retreat where nine researchers/artists/practitioners addressed the research question through practices like process drama, Butoh, physical theatre, improvisation, and visual arts on mixed media. In this paper, first, we introduce the theoretical framework and context of the study. Next, we illustrate the methodology, data analysis, and findings, with reference to one untranslatable word from the Chinese language, yuánfèn 缘分, loosely translated as ‘serendipity in relationships and life events’. We contemplate the practice in this workshop through a philosophical, pedagogical, and research-based lens. Finally, we contemplate future iterations of this project, reflecting on how performing yuánfèn could inform theatre-based research on migration and identity in education.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performing Yuánfèn: An Exploration of Untranslatable Words in the Lacunae Project

Piazzoli,

Corderi Novoa,

Hogan

2023

Arts

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“…Concurrently, "research-based theater" is the overarching term for play and performances. Where there is a collaboration with artists, research is used and there is a commitment to participant voice in theater (Cox et al, 2023).…”

Section: Engaging With the Artsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most importantly, women who participated could see their stories. This engagement challenged the cannons of using art in and for research, as it blurred the boundaries of artful inquiry and performance, expanding notions of research-based theater (Cox et al, 2023; Nichols et al, 2023). This meant moving beyond the interpretation and performance of data, the foundation of ethnodrama, to create a visual re-production of participants’ stories (Saldaña, 2003).…”

Section: The Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Art of Data Analysis: Disturbing Knowledge and Performing Critical Inquiry

Carranza

2023

Qualitative Inquiry

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Using theater and performance, the building of “We are not the Others” brought into discussion—How does the researcher ethically “code” data to re-present the stories of Women Immigrants who are understood as the Other to achieve the social justice goals? This article explores these questions and asks, “What is the purpose and politics of an embodied performance of/by the Other for White audiences?” These questions framed the processes of creating the re-telling of stories and were integral to the ethical engagement of audiences in a way that drew them in, to understand their own implications.

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“…A young married couple with no child-ren…But then they had a baby of their own…That was when it all changed… After a while, me dad came and brought us all back home again…They hadn't stopped the bombing; we just couldn't stand being split up. After that we just went down in the cellar whenever the alarm sounded… [Sound of air raid siren: 6 seconds] Discussion: Ethics, Aesthetics and Methodology Cox et al (2022) suggest that tensions can easily arise in research-informed theatre between, on the one hand, the tendency to use 'dramatic licence' to enhance impact, and on the other hand, the desire to stay true to participants' stories. Counter to this, however, is the view put forward by opponents of the 'aesthetic of objectivity' that art is not about verisimilitude or reproduction of the 'real'; there is, in any event, no single version of reality to be reproduced (Snyder-Young, 2010).…”

Section: Performing the Playsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Their Own Words: Exploring the Methodology and Ethics of Ethnotheatre in Qualitative Dementia Research

Capstick

2023

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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This article discusses the development of two short plays based on qualitative data from separate research studies related to dementia, both of which were performed in the UK in 2022. The first drama ( Voices from the front line) is a relatively standard piece of verbatim theatre, based on interview data and written accounts from a research study about the experiences of the dementia workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–22. The second ( The Other Side of the Wall) is based on ethnographic data from a research study carried out with people with dementia living in long-term care, and it introduces elements of invention and absurdism. In both pieces, non-professional actors co-developed the performances, drawing on the spoken words of the original research participants. Using extracts and examples from the script development process, the article attempts to chart the developmental process for a novice ethnodramatist (although experienced dementia researcher) in meeting ethical, aesthetic and methodological challenges.

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Ethics in Research-Based Theater: Why Stories Matter

Cited by 7 publications

References 17 publications

Performing Yuánfèn: An Exploration of Untranslatable Words in the Lacunae Project

Performing Yuánfèn: An Exploration of Untranslatable Words in the Lacunae Project

The Art of Data Analysis: Disturbing Knowledge and Performing Critical Inquiry

In Their Own Words: Exploring the Methodology and Ethics of Ethnotheatre in Qualitative Dementia Research

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