Abstract
Performance art as an occupation for disabled artists was examined through a qualitative phenomenological design based in narrative inquiry. The research yielded three themes: (1) Belonging to a community of disability activists promotes feelings of empowerment for disabled performance artists. (2) The invisible is made visible through their craft; performance art is a means to express the inside out. (3) Space and place impact performance art. Two important subthemes will also be highlighted.
Primary Author and Speaker: Kristin Monical
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kate Wettergren
Contributing Authors: Lisa Mahaffey
This research examines performance art as an occupation and explores how engagement in a non-traditional art-form shapes occupational identity and empowers disabled artists. Due to limited literature discussing performance art as an occupation for the disabled and the presence of the performance art style within disability arts and culture, researchers desired a deeper understanding of the meaning ascribed to this unique occupation.
A qualitative phenomenological design based in narrative inquiry was employed to examine complex, multidimensional human experiences. Six self-identified disabled performance artists participated in audio recorded semi-structured interviews or adapted email correspondence. Researchers transcribed interviews verbatim and followed a narrative analysis process which involved independently reading through interviews to get a sense of similarities and differences and then coding sections and establishing descriptions of the codes. Individual codes were compared between researchers and narrowed down to establish themes. Credibility was further established through member checking.
The narrative analysis resulted in three themes and two sub themes: 1. Belonging to a community of disability activists promotes feelings of empowerment for disabled performance artists. Sub-theme: Disabled performance artists develop and build connection with their viewers through performance art experiences. 2. The invisible is made visible through their craft; performance art is a means to express the inside out. Sub-theme: Disabled performance artists challenge the audience to change their narratives about disability. 3. Space and place impacts performance art.
This study adds to an understanding of how performance art impacts occupational identity and social change for disabled artists.
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