416 Exam Notes PDF

WEEK 1 DANCE CULTURE (Guarino , 2015) Is Dance a sport? Sport vs dance Sport is PA w/ competition Dance is art where body is instrument, movement is the medium Competition in Dance inherent in dance some styles more competitive (breaking & ballroom) media impacts the culture of comp. Creativity Perf...

WEEK 1 DANCE CULTURE (Guarino , 2015) Is Dance a sport? Sport vs dance Sport is PA w/ competition Dance is art where body is instrument, movement is the medium Competition in Dance inherent in dance some styles more competitive (breaking & ballroom) media impacts the culture of comp. Creativity Performativity may pose a threat to creativity Euro-Americans view dance a s entertainment Cultures use "folk dance" as central to cultural values & Way of preserving knowledge & ways of being (Pickard, 2014). Teaching physical education creatively Introduction Discusses the creative nature of teaching and learning in Physical Education (PE) and the importance of engaging teachers and learners in creative approaches. What is Creativity? Explores the concept of creativity, emphasizing its everyday applications and the significance of "little c" creativity, which recognizes the potential in all individuals. Creative Teaching and Teaching for Creativity in Physical Education Defines creative teaching as using imaginative methods to enhance learning and stresses the importance of fostering children's own creative thinking. Creative Potential of the Body – Core Features of Teaching for Creative Bodies Identifies key elements (PURPOSE, OPPORTUNITIES, WELL-BEING, ENVIRONMENT, REVEL) that support a creative approach in PE, highlighting the importance of physical exploration. (Noton, 2023). Inspired by Dance: A Future for Kinesiology. -Explores the integration of dance into kinesiology education, highlighting its potential to enrich movement education and enhance understanding of the body. Dance in the Context of North American Post-Secondary Physical Education and Kinesiology -Traces the historical development of dance education within physical education and its shift to Fine Arts, examining the implications for kinesiology. What Can Dance Inspired Education Offer to Undergraduate Students in Kinesiology? A Case Study Discusses a specific case study of a dance-inspired movement course designed for kinesiology students, emphasizing the benefits of incorporating dance principles. Why Include Dance Inspired Movement Learning in Kinesiology? Argues for the inclusion of dance-based knowledge in kinesiology curricula, highlighting its positive impact on students’ understanding of movement and body mechanics. Week 2 DANCE and SOCIAL THEORIES (Parviainen , 2002) Epistemological reflections on Dance Purpose of article Role of body activity in epistemology Ontology vs Epistemology Ontology: what exists and how! realism vs relativism Epistemology: nature of Knowledge as we know subjective vs objective Traditional Epistemologies Empiricism: Knowledge Is from perception experiences Empirical evidence is needed since humans have biases Discussing text by Parviainen ·-Knowledge is objective, but also intertwined identity/experience -Importance for dance/sport/kin is that individual backgrounds matter, movement informs understanding, therefore you should value everyone's diverse expressions. Dance knowledge - More than just knowing movement, it involves expressing aesthetic intent and creating aesthetic movement imagery. - Dancers learn to move by acquiring knowledge through the body & producing desired form (Green, 2002) "Foucault and the Training of Docile Bodies in Dance Education." Introduction -Discusses the complexity of dance education in universities, including various dance styles and pedagogical approaches. -Emphasizes the focus on ballet and modern dance, which dominate many college programs. Pedagogical Approach: -Describes a traditional conservatory-style pedagogy prevalent in dance education. -Critiques this approach for prioritizing teacher authority over student empowerment and personal expression. Foucauldian Analysis: -Applies Michel Foucault's theories to analyze dance training as a system of power that shapes and controls student bodies. -Highlights the transition from overt punishment to subtle forms of surveillance and normalization in dance education. Somatics and Gender: -Explores the growing use of somatic practices in dance education, focusing on body awareness and inner experience. -Examines how gender influences students' perceptions of their bodies and their experiences in dance. Theoretical Framework: -Integrates concepts from postmodern, feminist, and somatic theorists to contextualize the study. -Discusses the disconnect between societal body ideals and personal experiences in dance. WEEK 3 : DANCE & IDENTITY (Purkayathia, 2019) Colonial modernity & classical Dance Revival -History of Colonialism & Dance In India Indian dancing was altered by the british -Post-colonial India reclaims own dance Relationship blu dance & Identity Birth of new national identity -Individuality of Indian dance practices Decolonization contributing to Progression enriches feminist, queer&race theory by uncovering marginalized narratives and challenging dominant perspective POLITICAL ACTIVISM (Gray, 2013) Sarabhais & Nonviolence through art The Sarabhais -Mrinalini & Vikram Founded Darpana Academy 1949 Personal life and politics intertwined, social positions gave responsibilities -Mrianalini challenged issues e.g. female status and deforestation Graus discussion Sometimes wealth/social status disconnects ppl from issues of society -most artists holding high social status don't speak up like Sarabhais do Mallika Sarahhais Uses art as part of political activism Took over her mothers (Mrinalini) responsibilities Example An example I know: Eilish was one of the performers at Global Citizen Live in 2021, a 24- hour global broadcast event that brought together more than 70 artists, activists and world leaders to defend the planet and defeat poverty. Eilish puts on plastic-free shows, marches with Greta Thunberg, and is now a vegan as part of her promotion of animal rights. Won 2021 Person of the Year Award, the youngest person ever to have been granted the honour. She is also vocal about body positivity and autonomy; she’s been open about her experiences with Tourette’s syndrome and her battles with depression. Mallikas work V for violence: examines the psych and perpetrators of attacks like fundamentalist hindus destroyed a mosque and murdered muslims -mallika immediately becomes involved in situations like that,for ex after the Godhra massacre even when she received personal threats for speaking out after publishing things Reconstructing identities: (Cosgrave, 2021) Implications Of Pandemic Purpose of article · how covid affected freelance dancers in New zealand · feelings of alienation & adaptability Loss of identity -disrupted performance, rehearsals, which disconnects ppl from their identity and self worth since its tied into their contribution to dance and to performance Example from the text -dancers identity linked to social and cultural context and covid leads to career uncertainty and self perception -for example: jamie, kasey and beth had diff journeys adapting to the new working life -jamie found comfort in sharing experiences of lockdown and reflecting during her downtime on comparisons of herself to others (dancing, career) but now she says everyone is affected by the pandemic at the same time Reflection and re-imagination -opportunity to reflect on past work and industry structures -struggles with hierarchy -push for more collab and inclusive spaces -creativity as a tool for emotional resilience WEEK 4 (Brown, 2006) Feminist dance histories methodological frameworks for feminist dance -androcentric bias, reclaiming women as historical subjects, conscious partiality in research issue of representation -exclusion from power, but central to cultural production Essentialism : Gender viewed as natural and unchangeable Materialist Feminism : differences are socially constructed Post structuralism aligns w/ feminist ideas of rejecting fixed identities Margot Fonteyn & Gendered Partnerships Margot --> one of most famous ballerinas, in Swan Lake a sleeping Beauty Creative authorities (directors, Choreo,et) mostly Men → "owned" the female dancers. (Risner, 2008) CHALLENGING BOY CODE Dance Education and gender Males are minoritiesIn get name-called But receive more opportunities Strategies to↑participation : promoting prominent heterosexual male dancers Dance is “for girls” "Boy code" restricts boys emotional expression & creativity Traditional masculine values leads to emotional detachment and aggression Isolation factors - lack of same gendered peers & Supportive instructors -discouragement from friends and family -secrecy about dance stuff -fear of bullying -society linked to male dancers homosexuality Internal struggles -internalized homophobia -pressure to conform the societal expectations -frusteration Feminist Responses to the “Normatization” of the Female Body in Western Culture (Ponterotto, 2016). Normatized corporeity - The societal promotion of a specific ideal of bodily appearance, deeply influenced by media representations and cultural standards. This ideal not only shapes how bodies are viewed but also imposes significant psychological and social pressures. Binary Model -Binary model: There are human subjects—primarily male, white, heterosexual, and middle class and anyone who falls outside of this binary are often marginalized and deemed inferior. This binary structure simplifies complex identities into categories, creating a societal “norm” that devalues those who do not fit. -Consider how women of diverse backgrounds or body types are often subject to scrutiny and exclusion from mainstream narratives, reinforcing the idea that there’s only one “ideal” way to be female or look female The Paradox of Visibility and Invisibility Simultaneous Exposure and Silencing: ○ The article highlights a critical paradox in which women’s bodies are both hyper-visible and rendered culturally invisible. ○ On one hand, women’s bodies are objectified and scrutinized in media and advertising; on the other hand, their voices and agency are often silenced in societal and political discourse. Cultural Ideals and Medioa influence–aesthetic canon The article explains that contemporary society has established an aesthetic canon that dictates the "ideal" female body—characterized by youth, whiteness, and slimness. This ideal has become so entrenched in popular culture that it is often accepted as the standard for health and beauty. - fashion magazines - advertisements - social media The Cult of Thinness and Fitness ○ Obsession with Slimness: pervasive message in society that promotes thinness as the ultimate goal for women. This emphasis on body weight can lead to serious psychological consequences ○ Fitness industry introduces another layer to body idealization; while promoting healthy lifestyles, it can also impose unrealistic standards of beauty and/or strength that prioritize appearance over well-being Sexualization of Girls and New Femininities This trend is concerning as it can lead to early sexualization and a distorted understanding of femininity among young girls. Self-Body Modification - Women often feel pressured to modify their bodies through dieting or cosmetic surgery, framed as personal choice but rooted in societal obligation. - Concept of “Silent Conformity”: Women internalize the need to conform to beauty norms as a sign of self-discipline. Feminist Perspectives on Beauty Norms Critiques beauty standards Feminist Thought: challenges normalized beauty models  Critiquing the Model like the socially constructed experiences and values Rethinking Embodiment: body a social construct Rethinking Gender: Connell's hegemonic masculinity Cultural Influence and Empowerment Debate: - Susan Bordo highlights the “media empire,” where dominant images shape societal expectations (p. 142). - Empowerment Debate: Some, like Alex Kuczynski in his book “Beauty Junkies”, argue that seeking beauty can be seen as empowerment. Women may view body modification as a way to resist aging and societal stigma. Rethinking the Meaning of Embodiment Embodiment: The body as the intersection of "natural" and "cultural," shaped by experiences. Intricate Relations: Connections between social and cultural conditions influenced by daily experiences. Braidotti (1996): Multiple bodies illustrate diverse forms of embodiment - various relationships. Reevaluating the Gendered Topic - Society creates masculine and feminine cultural notions (different across cultures) - Individual gender identities are shaped by societal expectations and circumstances in life - Hegemonic Masculinity: the dominant way in society to be a man and it is the most respected/ideal kind of masculinity. Sets ideals and norms for men, Supports traditional ideas (male authority) -Challenging the Traditional Views on Gender → There is more than one way to “be a man” Reassessing Transexuality - Transexuality challenges feminist theory and the capitalistic control over gender norms. - Judith Butler highlights performativity - Gender is formed by repeated behaviours - Connell (2012) says that transexual women transition from identifying as men to then embodying and identifying as women socially. Contemplating Technology - Rosi Braidotti looks at technology as a contribution to the concept of the “cyber-body”, in which technology is part of humanity and can be both materialistic and symbolic - Donna Haraway looks at blurring the lines between these groups we separate (humans, animals, machines) and challenges the traditional boundaries society puts up Envisioning the Body as a Hybrid - A “hybrid body” challenges norms about how the body “should be” - Homi Bhabha poses that it is not just the combination of entities but it includes going past the boundaries that define identities. - This idea raises concern to postmodern ideologies of what our bodies “should be.” The Path to Empowerment: Rejecting the Disciplinary Viewpoint - Rappaport and Zimmerman describe empowerment as the relation between personal competence and the desire to take action. - Others describe it as taking control of one’s life and therefore influencing structures. - “Male spectatorship”: Looks at the female body as territory - Bordo explains that the male gaze consists of power, thus women self-regulate and abide by the expectations in society. - Ultimately, to increase women’s empowerment, we must reject the normatized vision of female bodies! WEEK 5 Risner, D. (2002). Rehearsing Heterosexuality: Unspoken Truths in Dance Education Dance and Sexuality The issue If half the men in dance are gay, why is homosexuality so often occluded from dance discourse and literature?