International Journal of Education & the Arts | |
Volume 14 Review 1 |
March 25, 2013 |
Playbuilding as Qualitative Research: A Participatory Arts-Based Approach: A Review EssayGeorge BelliveauUniversity of British Columbia, Canada Book Reviewed: Norris, J. (2009). Playbuilding as qualitative research: A participatory arts-based approach. Walnut Creek, PA: Left Coast Press. Archive Publishing.Abstract Norris' AERA award-winning book Playbuilding as Qualitative Research: A Participatory Arts-Based Approach is a welcomed research text which makes a valuable contribution for researchers, artists and educators interested in using theatre to engage in arts-based research. His book comes at a time when a number of important international scholars interested in applying theatre as a research methodology are sharing book length works: Judith Ackroyd & John O'Toole (2010) Performing Research: Tensions, Triumphs and Trade-offs of Ethnodrama; Tara Goldstein (2011) Staging Harriet's House: Writing and Producing Research-informed Theatre; and Johnny Saldana (2011) Ethnotheatre: Research from Page to Stage. These scholars respectively provide their valuable and insightful perspectives on theatre's potential to inform/enhance research. For his part, Norris clearly articulates how and why playbuilding (based upon collective creation) can be an insightful and valid approach for researchers and artists to consider for their work.
Visual Abstract
|
