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In Dialogue with Society : Democratic Engagement through Theatre

Dahlqvist, Jörgen LU (2025)
Abstract
This research project explores how theatre can contribute to democratic engagement. The starting point was artistic probes investigating aspects of democracy: participation, deliberation and inclusion. The probes resulted in three productions presented at theatre institutions in Sweden. In Skapa Demokrati (Creating Democracy), participation was promoted by encouraging the audience members to create a democracy together. The performance thus allowed participants to experience a democratic process by actively engaging in the making of a constitution. In Öva Demokrati (Practicing Democracy), deliberation was in focus. The performance allowed the audience to deliberate on suggestions for strengthening Swedish democracy. Through methods... (More)
This research project explores how theatre can contribute to democratic engagement. The starting point was artistic probes investigating aspects of democracy: participation, deliberation and inclusion. The probes resulted in three productions presented at theatre institutions in Sweden. In Skapa Demokrati (Creating Democracy), participation was promoted by encouraging the audience members to create a democracy together. The performance thus allowed participants to experience a democratic process by actively engaging in the making of a constitution. In Öva Demokrati (Practicing Democracy), deliberation was in focus. The performance allowed the audience to deliberate on suggestions for strengthening Swedish democracy. Through methods inspired by political science, the audience was invited to speak and listen to arguments for the different proposals. In the performance, they were also presented with a variety of ways of voting to illustrate how different electoral systems can encourage engagement and give minorities a chance to be heard. In Monument, different strategies were used to promote inclusion. The project started with the idea that monuments say something about society. The monuments were used as vehicles to include voices from the residents of Helsingborg. The artwork presented these different experiences through a multi-perspective script. Other outreach activities also helped enable inclusion. Narrative analysis for theatre was used to reflect on these probes, allowing for a deeper understanding of how performances were conceptualised and structured, and how they made meaning for the audience. Lastly, the performance Ibsendekonstruktion II: Brand was written and staged to reflect on how the research has changed the artistic practice. The research has resulted in strategies for inclusion and a novel theatre format, the conversational theatre, which encourages participation and deliberation. These outcomes provide the theatre with methods to be in dialogue with society. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Associate Professor Mads Thygesen, Aarhus universitet / Kunsthøgskolen i Olso
organization
alternative title
I dialog med samhället : Demokratiskt engagemang genom teater
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Democratic Engagement, Participation, Deliberation, Inclusion, Conversational Theatre
publisher
Jena Press
defense location
Malmö Theatre Academy, Bergsgatan 31B, 214 22 Malmö
defense date
2025-03-28 13:00:00
ISBN
978-91-88409-43-0
978-91-88409-42-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f398f069-3a30-48f9-aa03-a8460aa080a3
date added to LUP
2025-02-06 14:11:21
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:02:59
@misc{f398f069-3a30-48f9-aa03-a8460aa080a3,
  abstract     = {{This research project explores how theatre can contribute to democratic engagement. The starting point was artistic probes investigating aspects of democracy: participation, deliberation and inclusion. The probes resulted in three productions presented at theatre institutions in Sweden. In Skapa Demokrati (Creating Democracy), participation was promoted by encouraging the audience members to create a democracy together. The performance thus allowed participants to experience a democratic process by actively engaging in the making of a constitution. In Öva Demokrati (Practicing Democracy), deliberation was in focus. The performance allowed the audience to deliberate on suggestions for strengthening Swedish democracy. Through methods inspired by political science, the audience was invited to speak and listen to arguments for the different proposals. In the performance, they were also presented with a variety of ways of voting to illustrate how different electoral systems can encourage engagement and give minorities a chance to be heard. In Monument, different strategies were used to promote inclusion. The project started with the idea that monuments say something about society. The monuments were used as vehicles to include voices from the residents of Helsingborg. The artwork presented these different experiences through a multi-perspective script. Other outreach activities also helped enable inclusion. Narrative analysis for theatre was used to reflect on these probes, allowing for a deeper understanding of how performances were conceptualised and structured, and how they made meaning for the audience. Lastly, the performance Ibsendekonstruktion II: Brand was written and staged to reflect on how the research has changed the artistic practice. The research has resulted in strategies for inclusion and a novel theatre format, the conversational theatre, which encourages participation and deliberation. These outcomes provide the theatre with methods to be in dialogue with society.}},
  author       = {{Dahlqvist, Jörgen}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-88409-43-0}},
  keywords     = {{Democratic Engagement; Participation; Deliberation; Inclusion; Conversational Theatre}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{Jena Press}},
  title        = {{In Dialogue with Society : Democratic Engagement through Theatre}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/209393020/In_Dialogue_with_Society.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}