The Library

The art of togetherness: reflections on some essential artistic and pedagogic qualities of drama curricula

Tools

Neelands, Jonothan. (2009) The art of togetherness: reflections on some essential artistic and pedagogic qualities of drama curricula. NJ Drama Australia Journal, Vol.33 (No.1). pp. 9-18. ISSN 1445-2294

PDF
WRAP_Neelands_9074167-ie-090210-the_art_of_togetherness.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (163Kb)

Official URL: http://www.dramaaustralia.org.au/publications.html

Abstract

The paper examines two quite different examples of drama and theatre education in order to identify how drama curricula are shaped both by external forces and by a common pedagogic and artistic tradition or trajectory. The paper argues that the first and most significant shaping of curriculum is in response to the ideological and political imperatives of the government in power and that this shaping shifts in response to shifts in the field of power. However, the paper argues for maintaining a critical and pro-social pedagogy as the core of any drama curriculum whatever its technical appearance might be. This pedagogy is identified through the two cases and placed in a wider context of pedagogic and artistic thought and practice with the suggestion that by better understanding how the rich traditions of drama and theatre education sit within a broader struggle to give young people pro-social and critical pedagogic and artistic opportunities, drama can strengthen its resolve during periods of curriculum reform.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education ( -2013)

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Acting -- Study and teaching -- Great Britain, Education -- Political aspects -- Great Britain, Theater and society, Educational sociology -- Great Britain

Journal or Publication Title:

NJ Drama Australia Journal

Publisher:

Drama Australia: National Association for Drama in Education

ISSN:

1445-2294

Official Date:

February 2009

Dates:

Date	Event
February 2009	Published

Volume:

Vol.33

Number:

No.1

Page Range:

pp. 9-18

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

References:

Bernstein, B. (1973) Class, Codes and Control London, Paladin
Bruner, J. (1975) Towards a Theory of Instruction Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press
Bruner, J. (1976) The Culture of Education Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press
Curtis, D. (1997) The Castoriadis Reader Oxford, Blackwell
Dewey, J. (1997) Experience and Education New York, Touchstone
Dewey, J. (2007) Democracy and Education Teddington, Echo Library
Donaldson, M. (1987) Children’s Minds Harmondsworth, Penguin
Donaldson, M. (1993) Human Minds Harmondsworth, Penguin
Freire, P. (1998) Pedagogy of freedom : ethics, democracy and civic courage London, Coninuum
Freire, P. (2000) The Pedagogy of the Oppressed London, Continuum
Freire, P. (2004) Pedagogy of Hope London, Continuum
Greene, M. (1978) Landscapes of Learning New York, Teachers College Press
Greene, M. (1987) ‘Creating, Experiencing, Sense Making: Art Wolds in Schools’ The Journal of Aesthetic Education Vol.21, No. 4, Winter Issue, pp 11-23
Greene, M. (1988) The Dialectic of Freedom New York, teachers College Press
Leadbeater, C. (2008) WHAT’S NEXT? 21 Ideas for 21st Century Learning London, The Innovation Unit
McGrath, J. (2002) Theatre and Democracy New Theatre Quarterly No 18 May 2002
Neelands, J. (2009)'Acting together: ensemble as a democratic process in art and life' Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance,14:2, pp. 173-189
Newmann, F. and associates (1996) – Authentic Achievement; restructuring schools for intellectual quality San Francisco, Jossey-Bass
Seltzer, K. and Bentley, T. (2000) The Creative Age; Knowledge and Skills for the New Economy London, DEMOS
Vygotski, L. (1978) Mind in society : the development of higher psychological processes London, Harvard University Press
Williams, R. (1961) The Long Revolution London, Chatto and Windus.