Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2014 How Visibly Different Children Respond to Story-Creation Deandria Frazier Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VISUAL ARTS, THEATRE AND DANCE HOW VISIBLY DIFFERENT CHILDREN RESPOND TO STORY-CREATION BY DEANDRIA FRAZIER A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded Spring Semester, 2014 DeAndria Frazier defended this dissertation on March 19, 2014. The members of the supervisory committee were: Marcia Rosal Professor Directing Dissertation Larry Scharmann University Representative David Gussak Committee Member Thomas Anderson Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements ACKNOWLEGEMENTS Completing my dissertation has been one dream I have had since a child. It was often told to me that I would be unable to do it. But for the help and persistent encouragement from my mother, Deborah Glover, and my church family, I would have never been able to complete this process. After having to endure at least four eye surgeries during the research process and the challenges of trying to find participants, I found it difficult to press on and wanted to give up many times. These individuals told me to keep fighting for what I wanted by keeping the faith and believing all things were possible. I would also like to thank Dr. Kenneth Kilgore, who passed away in 2011. Before he left this world, he had me come sit next to him on a pew at church. He told me that he had been observing me and that he saw the worries on my face. I could hardly speak to him without crying. In that short meeting, he told me not to give up and to keep pressing on. I remember that moment and even now get lumps in my throat just thinking about that conversation. In those few moments he acknowledged my struggles, and he offered me the one thing he and I never liked to do. He offered a hug, one that I needed and had refused to take from others during my dissertation process. Dr. Kilgore knew me as a child, but I did not come to fully appreciate him until I began having more eye surgeries in 2009. When it was told in church that I would be having eye surgery, I was mortified. I did not want anyone to know. However, Dr. Kilgore told me that I was a testimony and that I needed to tell my story. He told me that he had watched God work a miracle. The miracle was not just in my physical transformation but in what God had allowed doctors to learn and accomplish in order for me to have my surgeries. For that, I say thank you. Thanks must also be given to my dissertation committee: Dr. Marcia Rosal, Dr. David Gussak, Dr. Tom Anderson, Dr Larry Scharmann, and Dr. Barbara Edwards. I know it has not been easy working with me because of all of my challenges, but your patience was greatly appreciated. You never gave up on me. Thank you. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 Context ...................................................................................................................................3 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................7 Research Question .................................................................................................................7 Justification ............................................................................................................................7 Symbolism and Storytelling .........................................................................................8 Definitions............................................................................................................................11 Overview of the Study .........................................................................................................12 Summary ..............................................................................................................................13 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................15 Psychology of Storytelling and Children .............................................................................15 Narrative Therapy ................................................................................................................18 Bibliotherapy........................................................................................................................20 Art Expression and Development in Children .....................................................................23 Art Therapy ..........................................................................................................................30 Disfigurement and Child Development ...............................................................................31 Storytelling and Children with Visible Differences.............................................................36 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................38 CHAPTER THREE: METHOD ....................................................................................................40 Research Question ...............................................................................................................40 Qualitative Research ............................................................................................................40 Grounded Theory .................................................................................................................42 Participants ...........................................................................................................................44 Procedures ............................................................................................................................46 Data Collection ....................................................................................................................49 Interviews ...................................................................................................................51 Observations ..............................................................................................................51 Audio and Visual Materials .......................................................................................52 Memo Writing ............................................................................................................53 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................53 Reliability and Validity ........................................................................................................54 Triangulation ..............................................................................................................54 Member Checking ......................................................................................................55 Thick Description.......................................................................................................55 Summary ..............................................................................................................................55 v CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ......................................................................................................56 Case 1 ...................................................................................................................................58 ZJ’s Initial Interview ..................................................................................................61 Story-Creation Process...............................................................................................64 ZJ’s Video 1 ...............................................................................................................64 ZJ’s Video 2 ...............................................................................................................67 ZJ’s Video 3 ...............................................................................................................71 ZJ’s Video 4 ...............................................................................................................73 ZJ’s Video 5 ...............................................................................................................76 ZJ’s Video 6 ...............................................................................................................79 ZJ’s Video 7 ...............................................................................................................81 ZJ’s Video 8 ...............................................................................................................85 ZJ’s Video 9 ...............................................................................................................87