The arts in development : an investigation of the contribution of contemporary dance to development in urban Fiji : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

dc.contributor.authorAllardice, Megan
dc.date.accessioned2012-12-20T00:53:11Z
dc.date.available2012-12-20T00:53:11Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores the contribution of the arts to development, taking the cultural turn in development as its point of entry. It treads new ground in that the cultural turn, largely, does not examine the specific area of ‘the arts’ as deliberate and heightened expressions of culture (Pérez González, 2008:11). Complementing the cultural turn’s emphasis on agency and multiplicity, the thesis also argues for the location of the arts within the aspiration for choice and freedom (Kabeer, 1999: Sen, 1999), and it looks to alternative development for modes of ‘doing’ development. These are models driven by concerns for participation, therefore, recognising agency, diversity, freedom and voice. A model is developed delineating three possible levels of contribution of the arts to development and suggesting that the inherent value of the arts underlies and unlocks the economic and other instrumental values that they also possess (McCarthy et al, 2004:37-39). This research uses a qualitative research methodology. Fieldwork was carried out in Suva, Fiji, with a focus on Vou Dance Company, a part-time, semi-professional dance group. Qualitative methodology was appropriate to the research because it responds to the importance that is placed on the search for values and meanings within the understanding of development as freedom as well as in the cultural turn and alternative development. Three methods of data collection were used. These were observation, participant and key informant interviews, and a participatory dance workshop. The research findings established a multifaceted definition of development and supported all of the types of contribution of the arts suggested by the model developed in this thesis in attaining development. The members of Vou and other respondents emphasised the importance of choice and perceive themselves as responsible for making choices available to others. A balancing of the economic contribution of the arts against values regarded as ‘inherent’, particularly those relating to preservation of elements of (traditional) culture, alongside the negotiation of hybrid contemporary identities, was consistent across all respondents. An analysis of national, regional and global policy documents revealed alignment of policy at all levels to these twin emphases of economy, and heritage and identity.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/4111
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectModern danceen
dc.subjectEconomic developmenten
dc.subjectFijien
dc.titleThe arts in development : an investigation of the contribution of contemporary dance to development in urban Fiji : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealanden
dc.typeThesisen
massey.contributor.authorAllardice, Meganen
thesis.degree.disciplineDevelopment Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen
thesis.degree.levelMastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Philosophy (M.Phil.)en
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
01_front.pdf
Size:
61.99 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
02_whole.pdf
Size:
986.26 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
804 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: