Casestudie af det frivillige sociale fællesskab

Abstract

The aim of this sociological thesis is to gain knowledge on what social significance does the local amateur theatre, “Det Hem’lige Teater” (DHT) in Aalborg, have on the participants, the “Hem’lige”, especially in relation to how their well-being improves after joining? Furthermore, thesis looks into what significance DHT has for the Hem’lige’s ongoing identity process when these young people participate in a community defined by artistic practice. The study uses abductive reasoning in casestudy design. It means that the method of empirical data collection follows phenomenological principles, while the analysis follows hermeneutics. The method of empirical data collection is lifeworld-oriented interview which focuses on the subjects’ experience of one’s lifeworld. The interviews follow a semi-structured guide in consideration of having some comparable information. However, if the subject has other agenda for how their perception of their lifeworld is best perceived, the interviewer is put in parentheses by the phenomenological principles. The interview guide is designed on statements by a lot of the “Hem’lige” in sympathetic and call-to-action posts in the Facebook group, “Bevar Det Hem’lige Teater”, which was created as a reaction to the threat of the closure of the theatre because Aalborg municipality negotiated cut downs on the budget for cultural initiatives that includes the theatre. From the participants’ posts expressed enormous feelings towards the theatre and said that it was “second home” and the community is like “family”. Also, some of the written posts expressed how their participation have helped with anxiety; this is interesting in the context of the trend in Denmark of young people feeling malaise with everyday life, and therefore the aim of the thesis aim another dimension of significance if the knowledge gained can answer what communities like this theatre does that helps young people’s well-being and self-worth. To support the analysis of social significance, the understanding is framed by Honneth’s theory of recognition and Rosa’s theory of resonance. The framework of how to understand artistic practice uses the Becker’s theory of art worlds, Sennett’s theory of crafting and Wenger’s theory of communities of practices, as well as looking into and taking inspiration from the findings of Tomi Visakko’s study about “Becoming Artists: Collective Reflection of Personal Experience in Community Theater”. Artistic practice is a complex social and cultural process, where participants navigate through various cultural frameworks to create and understand art. It’s emphasized that the social nature of learning enables the exchange of knowledge and culture, while individual identities develop and intertwin as a result of the collaboration through creation and the understanding of art. The thesis’ findings show that creativity and passion are characteristics of the type of young people that join the Hem’lige. As evident from the analysis, not all Hem'lige initially consider themselves creative, but they find that they also resonate with the creative process. The community’s artistic practice is simply based on the love for theatre, without being mainly goal-oriented with the product. The concept of "achievement" is undoubtedly is also part of this community. In the analysis, "achievement" is linked to goals and dreams. This can lead to some conflicts among the Hem'lige when there are disputes regarding someone's perception of themselves in relation to the lack of roles in a play. However, the community can support the individual in their experience of failure. One of the reasons why the community is capable of this is due to the necessary "recognition" among the Hem'lige. Recognition gains its significance from the fact that the interaction space fulfils the individual's desire for recognition and gives them the experience of standing in solidarity with each other. Solidarity consists of going through a learning process together, consisting of development and manifestation. The learning process, and the learning of one's creativity and passion, shapes the "art practice" and how this process persists in the community because of the way they influence each other and shape each other's ideas. The social learning process provides the insight and perspective, as Sennett points out with the concept of "crafting." Among the Hem'lige, it is particularly evident when they resonate with the creative process and achieve personal recognition with themselves, but also achieve recognition from the solidarity community at DHT. This initiates an "identity process," which is the discovery of one's creative abilities, and presupposes that identities are constructed around well-being with developing and unfolding in a community of curiosity. The synthesis of the social significance of DHT is that the collective learning process in a safe environment of equals enhances their identity development, as they, through experiences of success and mutual recognition, build a stronger sense of self-esteem and connectedness with each other. The thesis concludes that the existence foundation of the community enables the Hem’lige to genuinely identify with and assume the position as the artists they are.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Casestudie af det frivillige sociale fællesskab - Det Hem'lige Teater

[Casestudy of the voluntary community - Det Hem'lige Teater]