Who I am, where I come from, and where I am going : a critical study of Arab diaspora as creative space
This dissertation develops a critical examination of the Arab Diaspora culture as creative space in the field of the visual arts. Specifically, it examines the concept of diaspora as applied to the Arab experience, particularly its potential application as a creative space for Arab artists who live and work outside their countries of origin in Europe or America. It explores questions about the type of space for creation that is provided to an Arab immigrant artist within actual existing diaspora communities and the relation of that space to theoretical formulations of the diaspora position that postcolonial theorists developed in the 1990s. It also asks what the uses and limitations of these different models of diaspora might be for my own practice. To answer these questions, the dissertation takes a qualitative analytical approach meant to bring elements of cultural theory and criticism into interaction with my reflective practice as an artistic practitioner. It deploys a number of research methods including reviews of the existing literature, the use of interviews and questionnaires,a ~study case~ method, and the use of action research in the studio. As a result, the specificities of the history of Arab
Deebi, Aissa
GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Who I am, where I come from, and where I am going : a critical study of Arab diaspora as creative space. This dissertation develops a critical examination of the Arab Diaspora culture as creative space in the field of the visual arts. Specifically, it examines the concept of diaspora as applied to the Arab experience, particularly its potential application as a creative space for Arab artists who live and work outside their countries of origin in Europe or America. It explores questions about the type of space for creation that is provided to an Arab immigrant artist within actual existing diaspora communities and the relation of that space to theoretical formulations of the diaspora position that postcolonial theorists developed in the 1990s. It also asks what the uses and limitations of these different models of diaspora might be for my own practice. To answer these questions, the dissertation takes a qualitative analytical approach meant to bring elements of cultural theory and criticism into interaction with my reflective practice as an artistic practitioner. It deploys a number of research methods including reviews of the existing literature, the use of interviews and questionnaires,a ~study case~ method, and the use of action research in the studio. As a result, the specificities of the history of Arab
come critical_study arab diaspora creative space develops critical_examination arab diaspora culture creative space field visual_art specifically examines concept diaspora applied arab experience particularly potential application creative space arab artists live_work outside country_origin europe america explore question type space creation provide arab immigrant artist within actual exist diaspora community relation space theoretical formulation diaspora position postcolonial theorist develop also ask uses limitation different model diaspora might practice answer_question take qualitative analytical meant bring element cultural theory criticism interaction reflective_practice artistic practitioner number method_include review_exist literature use interview_questionnaire study case method_use action specificity history arab