Art and the Community: Breaking the Aesthetic of Disempowerment

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Art and the CommunityBreaking the Aesthetic of
Disempowerment

• Text Written by Christine Lomas
• Faculty of Arts, University College
• Bretton Hall, University of Leeds

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Edited by Dr. Kay Picart and Donna Gallagher
Based on a presentation by Brandice DM Valentino
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Discussion QuestionAccording to Lomas, Our
cultures existing theatrical aesthetic
emphasizes FORM and CONTENT as the key to
unlocking meaning what it IGNORES is the social
context from which FORM and CONTENT derive their
meaning.
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Do you agree or disagree?
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The Heuristic Model Illustrates Non-Theatrical
Performance ContextsIllustrates the ways in
which an individual interacts with dance making
and dance viewing in the non-theatrical
performance context, Community Dance.
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Express YourselfDont Repress Yourself

• Nature (authentic)
• CELEBRATION

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HUMAN CULTURE(adaptive)

• CEREMONIAL

• RITUAL

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Celebratory Activity
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Ceremonial Ritual Activities
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Values!?!?!?

• We are all pieces of data that collectively
  construct our communities.
• We have to examine and contemplate that which has
  shaped us.

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Political-Economic Emphasis of First-World
Monetarist Materialism on Power

• Who is this I?

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LABELS What do they mean? Who do they
serve? Where do they come from?
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Review Question

• Without individual significance how is culture
  experienced as explained by Lomas?

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Dance as mediator in relation to nature and
culture
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Discussion QuestionShould we teach dance as
therapeutic activity?
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REVIEW QUESTIONAccording to Lomas, What is
meant by threshold people in relation to
community dance?
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Discussion Question

• What role should the teacher have in community
  dance?

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Discussion Question

• Although teaching technique offers a challenge,
  is it truly a dance challenge?

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Discussion Question

• What changes might occur if the aesthetic code
  valued improvisation as much as planned,
  intentional product?