An invitation: Improvisational living and teaching

328 Pages·2005·3.22 MB·English

by  Young, David Leon

An Invitation
Improvisational Living and Teaching
by
David L. Young
B.A. University of British Columbia, 1990
B.Ed. University of British Columbia, 1992
M.A. University of British Columbia, 1998
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
in the
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
O David L. Young 2005
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Summer 2005
All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced
in whole or in part. By photocopy or other means,
without permission of the author
APPROVAL
NAME David Leon Young
DEGREE Doctor of Philosophy
TITLE An Invitation: Improvisational Living and Teaching
EXAMINING COMMITTEE:
Chair Heesoon Bai
-------- ------
Celeste Snowber, Assistant Professor
Senior Supervisor
_ - - _ L - - - - - - --
Peter Grimmett, Professor
Member
-------- -------
Carl Leggo, Associate Professor, Language and Literacy
Education, University of British Columbia
Member
_ --
Allan MacKinnon
External Examiner
-- - _ __--------
Elijah Mirochnik, Assistant Professor, George Mason
University, College of Education and Human Development,
3401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 322, MSN-2A6, Arlington,
Virginia 22201, U.S.A. '
Examiner
Date May 13, 2005
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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Abstract
0 0 0
When teachers and students teach and learn artistically, live dramatically, play
spontaneously, create collectively, and are aware of 'being in the moment', the
boundaries of the curriculum as well as the community of the classroom become
more in tune with the improvisational and human characteristics of life. A
reflective and analytical consideration of related phenomenological scholarship
could support an enhanced perception of improvisational ways of being - of life
as an ongoing journey of improvisation.
This _dissertation will connect the practical and the theoretical by
journeying through a series of reflective narrative and poetic glances connecting
my daily living and professional practice to improvisational and artistic
pedagogical moments which are not only grounded in the current and accepted
scholarly discourse, but are further underpinned with a series of important
interviews that will resonate within the field.
This dissertation seeks to explore how might we become more in tune
with different improvisational forms so as to incorporate and/or evaluate their
pedagogical effectiveness in the classroom? And to that effect, how can we tell,
share, write, dance, sing, draw, paint, build, sculpt, compose, act, or teach
passionately, sensitively, graciously, and mindfully as improvisational beings
whilst maintaining predetermined relationships, structures, and affiliations?
To what extent has dramatic improvisation been reformulated as a
competitive performance enterprise consisting of stand-up-like-comedy, warm-
up games, and winner-take-all tournaments? How credible is the ethereal nature
of spontaneous creation that is experienced in the moment? How can we begin to
share the improvisational moments of daily life, as a vital part of our own
personal narratives, our parenting, our relationships, and our pedagogical
practice?
Acknowledgments
Could our children be here to teach us what it means to play, to
enter the land of imagination where bears and lambs, sun and
snow dwell together? {CelesteS nowber (1989) In The Womb of God -
Creative Nurturing for the Soul. (p. 20).)
I have seemingly spent an eternity on this wonderful improvisational journey -
and any journey worth taking is full of great collaboration, compromise,
disappointment, exploration, and one would hope - successes. And not unlike
Dorothy's wonderful jaunt down 'the yellow brick road', the journey is never
quite complete without the helpful friendship and support of a wonderful
variety of characters, either willingly or through co-opted means, participating
and following you through the dream-like wonderment of the 'poppy fields' on
your way to 'Oz'; or into the darkness of the evil forest, awaiting the inevitable
attack from the 'flying monkeys' while being held hostage in the castle of the
'wicked witch'.
I have had many such journeys: as a person growing up in a divorced
family (with a whole cast of Disney villains playing the roles of my natural father
and his family), countered only by the integrity of my parents Hall and Carol,
my brother Mark, and my grandparents Ben and Lil; as a young student I was
bored in school, so I'd fight the system for the sheer joy of doing it; as a
university student both in my undergraduate and graduate work; and of course
now in my professional career - I have lived many different lives, tried many
different things, and most recently found a peacefulness and joy in my existence
that I never could have imagined had it not been for the following people who
have helped me along the way - to all of them I am eternally grateful.. .
...t o all the educators who have ever had the pleasure or, inversely,
and/or the frustration of working with me as a student at all levels of the
educational spectrum - I honor you all for your time, energy, commitment,
professionalism, and many contributions to my life.
... to all the students who I have worked with, taught, directed, or
coached in sports, in the theatre, in university, or in the public school system - I
am indebted to everyone who has shared their warmth, their time, their
commitment, their creativity, and most importantly allowed me to share and
glory in our mutual humanity.
.. . to Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary School, Aldergrove Community
Secondary School, and the Langley School District #35 for the opportunity to
research and reflect on my own practice, and for providing me with the
professional support to complete my doctoral studies.
... to the university community that I have recently been initiated into
over the past few years, I am grateful for the collegial friendships that I have
made and the support that I have garnered in an environment that is typically
more conducive to protecting ones own territory, as opposed to working
collaboratively with others.
... to the many people who have been both friends and mentors to me,
who have aided me in keeping a sense of clarity and direction in both my life and
my work - I am always in awe of your continued friendship and support.
vii
.. . to Maurice Sendak for allowing me to use his illustrations; and to Leah
Wonski (Subsidiary Rights Associate) Harper Collins Children's Books for
allowing me the right to re-publish the text written by Ruth Kraus: "Mud is to
jump in and slide in and yell doodleedoodleedoo!" {Kraus, R. and Sendak, M. A
Hole is To Dig: A First Book of Definitions. 1952. pp. 16-17.)
. .. to Dr. Neil Bechervaise, Dennis Cahill, Lori Dungey, Jim McLarty ,
Randy Dixon, who have all graciously allowed me to utilize and share their
words and ideas in this dissertation as synthesized through our many
discussions, taped interviews, and email correspondences.
... to the many people in the improv theatre community who have
contributed something very special to this work that will ultimately tell your
stories! (Special thanks to Alistair Cook, for your friendship and support in this
journey, I tip my hat to you; to James Faulkner (Keith's Business Manager), you
made things happen buddy, for that I am grateful; and especially to Keith
Johnstone... my other interviews were all wonderful, but our conversations, and
the time you gave me was incredible!
.. . to John and Karen Drexel who provided me with the venue - (their
family cabin) at Hood Point, on Bowen Island, which has been my special
secluded hide-away, allowing me to breathe in deeply, and write what needed to
be written - your friendship, love, and connectedness are important values that I
cherish always!
... to Ann Stahldorf (my mother in-law) who provided me with
transcriptions of my rambling taped thoughts, and the meandering interviews
that took place over these past few years - your love and kindness is greatly
appreciated.
...
V l l l
... to my family -who have shown me unconditional love and support
throughout my life, and our dogs (Sheldon, Eddie, Mr. Chi'ng, Kobe, and Shin
Li) for smiles, kisses, and therapeutic cuddles - I am always in your debt, and am
deeply moved by your integrity, courage, support, and love.
.. . to my brother Mark Leiren-Young who always has the time to support
me unconditionally, as well as perform the arduous task of academic ground-
zero editor of my work - he gets a PhD for reviewing everything I have ever
written!
... to Dr. Peter Grimmett I am grateful for the time he has taken to be a
part of this committee, and for his early advice and friendship during my
coursework.
... to Dr. Carl Leggo whose friendship, kind words, positive motivation,
and overall wisdom continue to be a meaningful and guiding part of my life-
journey, my everlasting respect for you and your own journey continue to
impress and inspire me.
... to Dr. Celeste Snowber who has provided me with friendship,
guidance, and nurturing since the first moment that I met her - I am eternally
thankful that she saved me and my doctoral adventures from being swept away
by the 'flying monkeys'.
... to my wife, partner, and best friend Cindy for her support, love, and her
passionate belief in me; not to mention her patience in a career path that has
made life both strange and wonderful simultaneously - the fruits of these
labours will benefit us both in so many ways, and I can't wait to share them with
you!
.. . and finally, for my daughter Emma Jordan Leiren Young - I dedicate
this dissertation to you and to the wondrous gifts that you have given me (and
everyone else who knows you) without ever really trying! You are my one true
teacher, as my educational journey wouldn't have ever been complete without
you - and with you - it keeps moving forward into the infiniteness of your
potential.
Because our eyes become old, we need child's eyes to see again -
to truly, deeply see the things of eternity. This is what children give
to us. They give us back time to see. We often think that as parents,
we are the ones who give so much to our children - and to a
certain extent this is true. But.. . by birthing children into our lives,
even if they are not our own flesh and blood.. . We are given new
eyes to see through their wonder and virgin sense of discovery.
{CelesteS nowber (1989) In The Womb of God - Creative Nurturing for
the Soul. (pp. 65-66).)