Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet
Abstract Arts-based research offers an innovative approach to today’s social-ecological challenges. Many authors ascertain the transformative power of arts-based research lies in its ability to generate holistic and collaborative encounters which facilitate change. To advance critical discussions ar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Urban Transformations |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-024-00062-6 |
| _version_ | 1797219804611870720 |
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| author | Maria Elizabeth Heines Christina Breed Kristine Engemann Linette Knudsen Lwandiso Colo Sifiso Ngcobo Maya Pasgaard |
| author_facet | Maria Elizabeth Heines Christina Breed Kristine Engemann Linette Knudsen Lwandiso Colo Sifiso Ngcobo Maya Pasgaard |
| author_sort | Maria Elizabeth Heines |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Arts-based research offers an innovative approach to today’s social-ecological challenges. Many authors ascertain the transformative power of arts-based research lies in its ability to generate holistic and collaborative encounters which facilitate change. To advance critical discussions around arts-based research, the following article opens up pockets of success as well as the limitations and failures of the My Mabopane photovoice project. This project intended to support urban transformation in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, by asking participants to photograph and reflect upon a nearby green space afflicted with various social and environmental challenges. Results suggest alternative ways of knowing, which contribute to transformative learning, can link arts-based research to social-ecological transformation. However, despite this promising pathway, analyses also reveal realizing social-ecological transformation with arts-based research is no walk in the park. Rather problematic assumptions around knowledge and knowledge production, emerging in tensions between art and science, often trump the emancipatory intentions of photovoice. And broader structural challenges, that arts-based research situates itself in and against, pose a strong barrier for social-ecological transformation. In response to these barriers, this article argues for a collaborative arts-based research practice centering community realities on multiple scales via a merging of art, science, and life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:39:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b7808ab040242f792e3b6a26f1f3fd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-8162 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:39:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Transformations |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b7808ab040242f792e3b6a26f1f3fd62024-04-07T11:20:41ZengBMCUrban Transformations2524-81622024-04-016111310.1186/s42854-024-00062-6Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meetMaria Elizabeth Heines0Christina Breed1Kristine Engemann2Linette Knudsen3Lwandiso Colo4Sifiso Ngcobo5Maya Pasgaard6Faculty of Science, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Architecture, University of PretoriaDepartment of Biology, Aarhus UniversityFaculty of Social Science, University of CopenhagenSchool of Engineering, University of PretoriaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of PretoriaDepartment of Biology, Aarhus UniversityAbstract Arts-based research offers an innovative approach to today’s social-ecological challenges. Many authors ascertain the transformative power of arts-based research lies in its ability to generate holistic and collaborative encounters which facilitate change. To advance critical discussions around arts-based research, the following article opens up pockets of success as well as the limitations and failures of the My Mabopane photovoice project. This project intended to support urban transformation in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, by asking participants to photograph and reflect upon a nearby green space afflicted with various social and environmental challenges. Results suggest alternative ways of knowing, which contribute to transformative learning, can link arts-based research to social-ecological transformation. However, despite this promising pathway, analyses also reveal realizing social-ecological transformation with arts-based research is no walk in the park. Rather problematic assumptions around knowledge and knowledge production, emerging in tensions between art and science, often trump the emancipatory intentions of photovoice. And broader structural challenges, that arts-based research situates itself in and against, pose a strong barrier for social-ecological transformation. In response to these barriers, this article argues for a collaborative arts-based research practice centering community realities on multiple scales via a merging of art, science, and life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-024-00062-6Art-based researchPhotovoiceSocial-ecological transformationUrban green spaces |
| spellingShingle | Maria Elizabeth Heines Christina Breed Kristine Engemann Linette Knudsen Lwandiso Colo Sifiso Ngcobo Maya Pasgaard Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet Urban Transformations Art-based research Photovoice Social-ecological transformation Urban green spaces |
| title | Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet |
| title_full | Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet |
| title_fullStr | Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet |
| title_full_unstemmed | Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet |
| title_short | Art, science, and life: where arts-based research and social-ecological transformation can meet |
| title_sort | art science and life where arts based research and social ecological transformation can meet |
| topic | Art-based research Photovoice Social-ecological transformation Urban green spaces |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-024-00062-6 |
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