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Arts and Peacebuilding
Craig Zelizer, Visiting Assistant Professor
Government 412
Georgetown University
Spring Semester, 2007

I. OBJECTIVES:

Throughout the globe, there are numerous individuals, groups and organizations using arts-based processes to support peacebuilding efforts in severely conflicted societies. Arts processes such as theater, music and film, can be an especially effective means to bring together identity groups who are in conflict, by sharing common cultural experiences and engaging in cooperative creative projects. The power of various arts processes to impact individuals emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually via the creative process can help foster change within and between conflicted groups. However, the arts are not necessarily a magic panacea for addressing conflicts, it also vital to explore how they can legitimate cultures of violence in conflict regions.

The course will cover a combination of theory and real-world cases, helping to contextualize many key concepts. In addition, students will receive practical exposure to several arts-based processes through exercises, guest-speakers and research projects. Through taking this course, students will develop an understanding of how professionals and organizations are incorporating innovative arts-based peacebuilding processes in diverse settings that can help inform their future work.

II. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

More information on the assignments below will provided during the semester and on the blackboard class site. All written assignments should be double-spaced and include clear and consistent citations where appropriate (such as Chicago or APA style).

1. Class Participation (10%) Students are expected to attend and participate in classes regularly. The class will be highly interactive in nature and your contributions will help ensure the success of the class. The format will consist of large and small group discussions, exercises, activities, etc. Students who have excessive absences (more than two) may fail this portion of the class.
2. Informational Interview (25%) In order to help provide a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges of scholars and practitioners working on arts and peacebuilding, each student will be responsible for conducting an informational interview with at least one practitioner/scholar working in the intersection of arts and peacebuilding. The interview can focus on an individual(s) who are working at various levels (individual, community, etc) and through various mediums (film, literature, theater, music). The interview can focus on what type of work the individual is responsible for, what processes and theories guide their work, who are their mentors, what is the philosophy of their organization, and what challenges/benefits do they see to working in the field. A reflective paper of 12-14 (8-10 for undergraduate) pages summarizing the interview, connecting it to class contents, and questions related to practice will be due. Students will conduct short presentations of their interviews. Students may also to choose do to interviews in pairs or as a group project. Due March 1.
3. Reflection on Artistic Event (10%) Over the course of the semester, students will be required to attend at least one arts based event in the Washington, DC area. The event should preferably involve some aspect of arts and conflict, such as a community theater performance with an audience discussion, film on a conflict topic/region, visual arts exhibit connected to conflict, etc. Students will be responsible for writing a short reflection paper (4-6 pages) about the event and connecting it to some of the relevant theories and concepts from class. The goal of the assignment is to interrogate and learn from the event, explore how it connects to other aspects of class, etc. (i.e. the paper should not just be descriptive) process and/or conflict resolution process. Due March 29.
4. Arts-Based Project (25%) In order to gain practical experience, students will be encouraged to create their own arts-based projects exploring an aspect of arts and peacebuilding. Students may choose to work through a variety of mediums (such as narrative, film, visual) and create a product that explores some aspect of arts and peacebuilding. For example a student interested in refugees and conflict, might do a short film project where they interview students and other community members about their perspectives. A student more interested in literary approaches, may create a written story, while another might write a short theater piece. Students will be encouraged to work in teams and will be responsible for presenting their project to class towards the end of the semester. Due April 26.
5. Paper on Arts and Peacebuilding (30%) Students are responsible for writing a 10-14 (7-9 undergraduate) page paper in which they outline how they define the relationship between arts and peacebuilding. In the paper, students should integrate select material from the class, highlight what are the key opportunities/challenges related to conducting arts and peacebuilding activities and other, and discuss the theories and models that are most useful. Due May 9.

III. READINGS: Books:

Boal, A. (1985). Theater of the Oppressed. Theatre Communications Group.

Kalmanowitz, D & Lloyd, B. (2005). Art Therapy and Political Violence. With Art, Without Illusion. Routledge.

Lebaron, M. (2002). Bridging Troubled Waters: Conflict Resolution From the Heart. Jossey-Bass.

Lederach, J.P. (2005) The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace. Oxford University Press.

Schirch, L. (2005). Ritual and Symbol in Peacebuilding. Kumarian.

Taylor, P. (2003 ). Applied Theatre: Creating Transformative Encounters in the Community. Heinemann Drama.

Other Readings:

Where appropriate additional supplemental readings will be assigned for various weeks. The readings will either be accessible on the Internet or via the library’s ereserves.

IV. COURSE OUTLINE

January 11, 2007: INTRODUCTION 

Overview of course
Expectations
Review of Arts Based Processes

January 18, 2007: THE ART OF COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY OF ARTS

Key theories and models

Online Readings

Assaf, A., Korza, P. & Schaffer-Bacon, B. (2002) INROADS: The Intersection of Art & Civic Dialogue. Community Arts Network
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles /2002/08/inroadsthe_inte.php

Cleveland, W. (2002). Mapping the field: Arts-based community development. Community Arts Networkhttp://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles /2002/05/mapping_the_fie.php

Cohen-Cruz, J. (2002) An Introduction to Community Art and Activism, Community Arts Network
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles /2002/02/an_introduction.php

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 2000 (January). Arts and performances for prevention. Youth in Action Bulletin. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Washington, DC: U.S. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/178927.pdf

Thompson, J. (2004). Why Social Theatre? TDR: The Drama Review 48 (3), 12-16.
http://0-muse.jhu.edu.library.lausys.georgetown.edu/ journals/the_drama_review/v048/48.3thompson01.pdf

Zelizer, C. (2004) The Role of Artistic Processes in Peacebuilding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 19-27
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=765270211&sid=2&Fmt= 2&clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD

January 25, 2007: PEACEBUILDING AND IDENTITY CONFLICTS

Structural vs. identity sources of conflict
General Approaches to Peacebuilding (A Multi-Track Model)

LeBaron, Chapter 1
Schirch, Chapter 3

Online Readings

Broome, B. (1991). Building Shared Meaning: Implications of a Relational Approach to Empathy for Teaching Intercultural Communication. Communication Education, 40(3), 235-250.
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=3079896&sid=3&Fmt=2& clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Ross, M.H (2004). Cultural Strategies of Ethnic Conflict Mitigation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. See
http://www.isanet.org/archive.html

Zelizer, C. (2004) The Role of Artistic Processes in Peacebuilding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 28-49
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=765270211&sid=2&Fmt= 2&clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD

February 1, 2007: ART in WAR AND ART in PEACE

Art, Relationship Building and Community
Existential needs for meaning
Overview of Processes

Kalmanowitz, Introduction, Chapter 1
LeBaron, Chapter 3, 4, 5
Schirch, Chapter 1

Online Readings:

Cohen. C. (2005). Creative Approaches to Reconciliation in The Psychology of Resolving Global Conflicts: From War to Peace, edited by Mari Fitzduff and Christopher E. Stout.
http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/Slifka/about/ Creative%20Approaches.pdf

Marsh, H. & Gould, H. (2003). Routemapping and Cultural Development. Creative Exchange, London. http://www.creativexchange.org/taxonomy/term/237?page=1

Zelizer, C. (2003). The Role of Artistic Processes in Peacebuilding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Peace and Conflict Studies. 10, #2, 62-75, http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/journalsPDF/V10N2.pdf

Zelizer, C. (2004) The Role of Artistic Processes in Peacebuilding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 107-149
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=765270211&sid=2&Fmt= 2&clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD

February 8, 2007: RITUAL AND RECONCILATION

The importance of Ritual
Creativity and Rationality

LeBaron, Chapter 6, 8
Schirch, Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

February 15, 2007: ARTS AND TRAUMA HEALING

Art, Trauma and Conflict
The Therapy of Art Therapy

Kalmanowitz, Chapter 2, 4, 6, 9, 11

Online Reading

Edmonson, L. (2005). Marketing Trauma and the Theatre of War in Northern Uganda. Theatre Journal. 57 (3), 451-474
http://0-muse.jhu.edu.library.lausys.georgetown.edu/ journals/theatre_journal/v057/57.3edmondson.html

February 22, 2007: PERFORMING FOR PEACE

Theater for Peacebuilding
Theater for Development

Boal, entire book
Taylor, Chapter 1, 2

Online Readings

Grant, D. (1993). Playing the wild card. A survey of community drama and smaller scale theater from a community relations perspective. Belfast, Northern Ireland: Community Relations Council. http://www.community-relations.org.uk/filestore/ documents/Playing_the_Wild_Card.pdf, pages 1-13, 38-46, 79-85.

March 1, 2007: PERFORMING FOR PEACE CONTINUED

Review of Key Processes
Skills Overview

Taylor, Chapter 3

Online Readings

Reardon, C. (2001). Democracy on Stage. Ford Foundation Report.
http://www.fordfound.org/publications/ ff_report/view_ff_report_detail.cfm?report_index=311

Schininà, G. (2004). Here We Are: Social Theatre and Some Open Questions about Its Developments. TDR: The Drama Review, 48 (3), 17-31.
http://0-muse.jhu.edu.library.lausys.georgetown.edu/ journals/the_drama_review/v048/48.3schinina01.pdf

Slachmuijlder, L. (2006). Participatory Theatre for Conflict Transformation. Proposal submitted to Ashoka, Changemakers Competition.
http://www.changemakers.net/cm/journal/ peace/displaypeace.cfm?ID=226

Thompson, J. (2004). Digging Up Stories: An Archaeology of Theatre in War TDR: The Drama Review, 48 (3), 150-164.
http://0-muse.jhu.edu.library.lausys.georgetown.edu/ journals/the_drama_review/v048/48.3thompson02.pdf

March 8, 2007: Break

March 15, 2007: NARRATIVES OF PEACE AND CONFLICT

Dueling narratives and conflict
Integrative Storytelling

LeBaron, Chapter 7

Online Readings

Fisher, D. (2003). Short Stories with Meaning. Published on Transcend website, see http://ww.transcend.org

Grazar, D. (December 16, 2006). In the telling. The Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jerusalemstories.org/

Senehi, J. (2002). Constructive Storytelling: A Peace Process. Peace and Conflict Studies, 9 (2), 41-63,
http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/journalsPDF/V9N2.pdf

March 22, 2007: MUSIC FOR PEACE

Tools and Techniques
Examples

Online Readings

Arbukle, R. (n.d.) How I came to this Music [Interview with BBC 3 Radio]. World on the Street. The Global Music Challenge.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/onyourstreet/msroya1.shtml

Mylan, M. (1998). The Afro Reggae Beat A Weapon Against Drugs, Racism and Violence in Rio.
http://www.changemakers.net/cm/journal/98july/mylan.cfm

Philipps, G.L. (2004). Can there be "music for peace"? International Journal of World Peace, 21 ( 2), 63-74,
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=766211671&sid=1&Fmt= 3&clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Slachmuijlder, L. (2005). The Rhythm of Reconciliation: A reflection on drumming as a contribution to reconciliation processes in Burundi and South Africa. A working paper of Recasting Reconciliation through Culture and the Arts.
http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/ Slifka/vrc/papers/lena/Slachmuijlder.pdf

March 29, 2007: CINEMA OF WAR AND PEACE

Film to be determined

Online Readings:

Avni, R. (2006). Mobilizing Hope: Beyond the Shame-Based Model in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, American Anthropologist, 108(1), 205-215.
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu/ pqdweb?index=0&did=1008008971&Srch Mode= 1&sid=8&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT= 309&VName=PQD&TS=1168491342&clientId=5604

Menkel-Meadows, C. (2005). Legal Negotiation in Popular Culture: What Are We Bargaining For? In LAW AND POPULAR CULTURE, Michael Freeman, ed., Oxford University Press, 583-605. (will be uploaded on blackboard).

April 5, 2007: Break

April 12, 2007: EVALUATION OF ARTS BASED PROGRAMMING

Tools for Analysis
The Proof is in the Process
Ethics of Practice and Power Relations

Taylor, Chapter 4, 5

Online Readings

Brusset, E. & Ott, R. (2004). Nashe Maalo: Design, Implementation, and Outcomes - Social Transformation Through the Media. Evaluation for Search for Common Ground.
http://www.sfcg.org/sfcg/evaluations/nash2004.pdf, 3-72.

Cleveland, W. (2005). Making Exact Change: How U.S. Arts-Based Programs Have Made A Significant and Sustained Impact on Their Communities, Art in the Public Interest. Community Arts Network,
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archive/mec/index.php

Stern, M. & Seifert, S. (2002). Culture builds community evaluation summary report. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Work.
http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/SIAP/wholerep.pdf

April 19, 2006 PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

April 26, 2007: INTEGRATION AND PLANNING ARTS-BASED PROGRAMS

Review of semester and outstanding questions
Tools and resources for planning arts-based programs

Lebaron, Chapter 9
Liebmann, Chapter 16
Schirch, Chapter 10

Online Readings:

Hardy, J. (2006). Mother Africa Laughs: The Rwandan Folk Tale Project. Community Arts Network.
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/ 2006/12/mother_africa_l.php

Zelizer, C. (2004) The Role of Artistic Processes in Peacebuilding in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, Chapter 7,
http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.lausys.georgetown.edu:80/ pqdweb?did=765270211&sid=2&Fmt= 2&clientId= 5604&RQT=309&VName=PQD