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The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Education MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: ADULT EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN LUIS CAMNITZER’S ART A Dissertation in Adult Education by Ana Carlina Zorrilla © 2012 Ana C. Zorrilla Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education May 2012 ii The dissertation of Ana Carlina Zorrilla was reviewed and approved* by the following: Elizabeth J. Tisdell Professor of Adult Education Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Ilhan Kucukaydin Affiliate Assistant Professor of Education Peter Kareithi Associate Professor of Communications and Humanities Robin Veder Associate Professor of Humanities and Art History/Visual Culture Fred M. Schied Associate Professor of Education In Charge of Graduate Program in Adult Education *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the connection between art and adult education for critical consciousness through the conceptual art of Luis Camnitzer. The theoretical framework grounding this research was critical public pedagogy, influenced by both critical theory and Stuart Hall’s systems of representation (1997). This framework attempts to understand the learning and unlearning that takes place through various texts and in public venues. The study aimed to further understand adult education for critical consciousness through art as evidenced in the work of Camnitzer. There is limited literature on critical public pedagogy because it is a nascent branch in the adult education field. For data collection, this qualitative research study used interviews with conceptual artist Luis Camnitzer and with others familiar with his work as well as textual analysis of his work. The findings of the study indicated that Camnitzer exemplifies the connection between art and adult education for critical consciousness. First, his work encourages interaction and critique of ideas and social conditions of society, and he hopes that his art will help re-present reality in ways that the audience may not have expected. Secondly, it promotes exploration of the relation between art and politics, and art as a communicator and mediator of culture. Third, Camnitzer uses a variety of media to foment challenges to the status quo while also involving the audience in a unique role of co-creator of meaning. It is in this role that the audience awakens to a social responsibility drowned out by the conventionalities of the structures. All of these are hallmarks of critical consciousness and adult education. The final portion of the study considered the implications for theory, research and practice. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... x DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................xii Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 Background to the Problem ..................................................................................... 4 Art as Communication .............................................................................. 5 Art as Adult Education for Critical Consciousness .................................... 6 Adult Education through Art as Critical Consciousness-Raising ............... 9 Luis Camnitzer ....................................................................................... 14 Problem Statement ................................................................................................ 15 Purpose and Research Questions ........................................................................... 16 Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................... 16 Critical Public Pedagogy ........................................................................ 17 Critical Theory and Critical Pedagogy......................................... 18 Assumptions of Critical Public Pedagogy .................................... 19 Stuart Hall’s (1997) Theory of Representation ...................................................... 21 Methodology Overview ........................................................................................ 22 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................... 24 Assumptions of the Study ..................................................................................... 27 Limitations and Strengths of the Study .................................................................. 28 Definitions of Terms ............................................................................................. 29 Summary .............................................................................................................. 32 v Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 34 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 34 Critical Theory and Artistic Expression................................................................. 35 Critical Theory ....................................................................................... 35 Culture and Power .................................................................................. 40 Art and Meaning..................................................................................... 43 Art, Ideology, and Hegemony ................................................................. 47 Theoretical Framework: A Critical Public Pedagogy of Representation ................ 49 Defining Public Pedagogy/Critical Public Pedagogy ............................... 50 Critical Public Pedagogy and Adult Education for Critical Consciousness ................................................................ 56 Hall’s (1997) Theory of Representation .................................................. 62 Arts Communication as Public Pedagogy ............................................... 67 Art as Critical Public Pedagogy............................................................................. 69 How Art Acts as a Form of (Critical) Public Pedagogy ........................... 70 Art as Communication ................................................................ 70 Art and the Construction of Identity ............................................ 71 Art as Resistance to Power .......................................................... 73 Art as a Tool for Mobilization ..................................................... 75 Adult Education through Public Art: Some Examples ............................ 77 Some Relevant Research on Arts as Adult Education for Critical Consciousness ............................................................................. 80 Gaps in Research .................................................................................... 87 Summary .............................................................................................................. 89 Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 91 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 91 A Qualitative Research Paradigm ......................................................................... 93 Case Study and Critical Textual Analysis .............................................................. 95 vi Case Study ............................................................................................. 96 Critical Textual Analysis ........................................................................ 98 Critical Historical Analysis ......................................................... 98 Critical Cultural Textual Analysis ............................................. 102 Background of Researcher .................................................................................. 103 Participant Selection ........................................................................................... 105 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 107 Documents/Artifacts ............................................................................. 107 Interview .............................................................................................. 108 Interview with Camnitzer .......................................................... 108 Other Interviews ....................................................................... 109 Ethics and Informed Consent .............................................................................. 111 Data Analysis...................................................................................................... 112 Verification ......................................................................................................... 115 Confirmability ...................................................................................... 115 Credibility ............................................................................................ 116 Dependability ......................................................................................