1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«Beginning with research on the intersection of cultural identity, family history and education, this dissertation investigates how life experiences relevant to art contribute to identity and cultural identity formation.» (p. iii)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«The research question is: What is the relationship between art and life experiences and cultural identity in the lives of four contemporary Indigenous women artists?» (p. 13)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«In exploring the lives of four Indigenous women [Shelley Niro, Lisa Myers, Jori Cachene, Nadia Myre] specifically contemporary women artists, this study makes a link between life experiences, events, art and art education.» (p. iii)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«The findings indicate that both external and internal factors impact on the development of cultural identity. Identity development, as has been found with artistic identity development, is an accumulative process and education is an important factor. Family, self-awareness and a broadened knowledge of the external world along with a sustained interrogation of their inner world are also essential.» (p. iii) In this study, «[t]he artists’ families and kinships, within their home and the wider community, the educational sites and the mentors, artists and teachers with whom the artists interacted were explored to determine how these external influences had an impact on art-making and identity formation – in terms of both cultural identity and as an artist.» (p. 221)