Acting Up: Theater of the Oppressed as Critical Ethnography

In this paper the author reports on the use of Theater of the Oppressed in a long-term critical ethnography. Building on the work of performative ethnographers, she reviews the literature on the uses of drama in qualitative research and explores the traditional research lines that are blurred in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of qualitative methods 2009-06, Vol.8 (2), p.65-96
Main Author: Dennis, Barbara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acting
Aggression
Bullying
Data collection
Drama
English language
Ethnography
Literature reviews
Methodology
Methodology (Data Analysis)
Methodology (Data Collection)
Oppression
Performing arts
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative Methods
Qualitative research
Research methods
Role
Secondary schools
Social integration
Students
Teachers
Theater
Theater Arts
Theatre
U.S.A
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Summary:In this paper the author reports on the use of Theater of the Oppressed in a long-term critical ethnography. Building on the work of performative ethnographers, she reviews the literature on the uses of drama in qualitative research and explores the traditional research lines that are blurred in the process. More important, she details the experiences collecting and analyzing data using Theater of the Oppressed. In other published accounts of performative ethnography, data collection is emphasized and data analysis is not usually discussed, in part, because the line between data collection and analysis is blurred in the use of theater as inquiry. The author not only examines that blurring but suggests a method of analysis that others might find useful. The study focused on the integration of English language learners in a Midwestern U.S. high school. The author used Theater of the Oppressed with teachers to explore their role in the bullying activities of students. The analysis reveals changes in awareness witnessed through the drama.
ISSN:1609-4069
1609-4069
DOI:10.1177/160940690900800208