Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Inner-city youth are often labeled in social science research with the "at risk" construct, signifying the risk of anticipated failure based on children's (or families') deficiencies. In the context of an arts project, the inner-city students in this study demonstrated ability to overcome the deficient "at risk" label imposed by society. The year-long, teacher-practitioner research took place in an underprivileged K-5 elementary school in the Northeast. Using a sociocultural framework, I examined what happens when children in this school setting are given an arts project in which they are allowed to be self-directive. The arts project consisted of weekly participation in multicultural performing arts ensembles throughout the school year culminating in student-created productions. Data collection for the ethnographic study consisted of participant observation, semi-structured and open-ended group interviews, video-taping/audio recording, and student reflective journal writing. Another integral component of the study was the use of discourse analysis in the interpretation. This study demonstrates that inner-city youths possess positive attributes and the potential to succeed. Given the space, time, and opportunity to study and collaborate together, the students created substantive works of art, which alludes to the transformative power of the arts.
Recommended Citation
Cotter-Lemus, Kimberly, "Children of possibility: Children's musicking in communities of practice" (2009). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 2343.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/2343
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