Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Doctoral student Lesley University Identifies Empathy as Important Theme in Creative Arts in Interdiscisplinary Practice Book

As part of our special series at this blog about our readers and the research book, "Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, Inquiries for Hope and Change," in our last post we featured Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Sue Spencer RN from Northumbria University UK. Today, we bring you comments from Pete Cormier, a doctoral student in Educational Studies at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusettes who is researching the engagement practices of performance art as pedagogy for community service. He is also managing director of the Cornerstone Performing Arts Centre in Fitchburg Massachusettes, an organization which provides training and performance opportunities to the region's marginalized youth. (see website and excerpt film premier "Fresh Water")

Pete Cormier reports the book, "Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, Inquiries for Hope and Change" has a broad, cross disciplinary appeal and identifies empathy as an important thematic thread running through the text.

"This book is filled with research, narratives and ideas for the student, scholar, community art-maker and anyone interested in using the arts to connect with and engage the marginalized in our communities. In Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, Inquiries for Hope and Change, editor Cheryl McLean enlists a talented and passionate group of researchers and practitioners to share their experiences using various art forms to change lives and skillfully weaves a tapestry of empathic and innovative practices that provide a series of effective real-world strategies for engaging marginalized populations who are facing daunting social issues. Empathy is clearly the thread running through the text which connects the stories and experiences of the practitioners, patients and researchers described in these pages. " P. Cormier, MS, Non Profit Management, Worcester State University, BA, Sociology, The University of Notre Dame)

In creating the book "Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, Inquiries for Hope and Change" it was our intention to show, by way of illustrative examples, the considerable breadth and scope of the research. First hand topical accounts are featured from leading artist/researchers, academics, health researchers, nurse educators, physicians, envirommentalists and others who actively use the creative arts in interdisciplinary practice in cutting edge research and in methodologies for health, hope and change.



About the book

Table of Contents

NEW! Read chapter quotes from contributors