Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality.

Crea02b


Arts Practice as Life Support? Anthropological Perspectives 
Convenors:
Catherine West
Jane Mulcock (Esperance Community Arts)
Send message to Convenors
Format:
Panel
Stream:
Performing Anthropology Creatively
Location:
WPE Paraparap
Sessions:
Thursday 24 November, -
Time zone: Australia/Melbourne

Short Abstract:

An essential creative urge is evident across human cultures, often observed in the production and reproduction of social and individual meaning. Is human life supported through connecting intimately with arts practice? How might anthropologists engage with the arts as both method and subject?

Long Abstract:

This panel seeks contributions that explore the role of arts-based methods and arts-based participatory research in anthropology. We consider the logic of Design Anthropology as an apposite structure for pursuing these topics, as it maintains reflexivity between the practice of anthropology as a creative process, and the creative process as a subject of anthropology (Gunn, Otto & Smith 2020). We ask what elements of social, political, and economic design underpin the phenomena of 'creativity' and 'arts' in the current day? While participant observation has long been a hallmark of anthropology, there is a growing appreciation outside of anthropology of what Ingold calls 'observant participation'. The 'participatory turn' is evident in Mulligan and Smith's (2010) 'turn to community', and in Leavy's assertion that arts-based and participatory research are core elements of social science research design. In drawing anthropology and the arts into relation, we emphasise the essential creative urge that is evident across human cultures and in the production of social and individual meaning. Is engaging with arts practice a form of life support? We take a broad view of what constitutes artistic engagement. It can include any medium of expression (for example dance, music, theatre, visual arts and crafts, writing, photography, and filmmaking) in many contexts (for example community arts programs, individual arts practice, ritual, popular culture, and everyday creativity). This panel provides a forum to ponder the diverse moments, materials, ideas, and transformations that occur within and between the 'of' and 'for' of anthropology and the arts.

Accepted papers:

Session 1 Thursday 24 November, 2022, -