Extending activist reach and influence through Dwelling Space Activism: An autoethnographic and practice-led enquiry through activism, performance and life praxis

Crow, Liz

Abstract

This research sets out to explore a distinct and original form of activist practice, which I name Dwelling Space Activism, and which holds potential both to extend activist reach and influence and to contribute to embedded and sustainable change. Dwelling Space Activism is a dialogic process and practice of activist influence towards change centred upon the encounter between the activist work and those happening upon it. It is presented through its core components and processes - the elements; connectedness and dialogue; and the holding space - which integrate to create a conceptual and applied framework of Dwelling Space Activism. In addition to its academic relevance, the research offers movement-relevant knowledge, providing a tool for activists to explore, critique and extend their own practice.

Based in an autoethnographic and practice-led enquiry via activist, performance and moving image, and life praxis, this research intertwines theory with practice. It draws upon both longitudinal practice of almost 40 years, combined with immersive, thick description from an intensive, durational activist performance entitled Figures and undertaken during the course of the PhD.

In addition to its description of the distinct practice of Dwelling Space Activism, the thesis offers a new activist discourse, including a set of core principles that underpin the many different forms of activism and which re-map it to enable under-utilised and diverse forms to be more readily recognised, practised and extended, additionally introducing new concepts such as inactivism, the accidental audience, the sideways approach, and Dwelling Space Activism itself. Methodologically, it researches across multiple knowledge disciplines that are not conventionally applied to an activist context, including narrative methodology, performance research, holistic and rhizomatic philosophies, and disability studies and crip theory.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 13, 2023
• Keywords: activism; dwelling space; dialogue; embodiment; disability; autoethnography; performance; practice-led
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7664257
• Award Date: Mar 1, 2022