In search of the deep politic: Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project, an arts, education and civic partnership

Abstract

In Search of the Deep Politic: Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project, an Arts, Education and Civic Partnership, explores the enactment of public scholarship through embedded case study methodology. Charting the author's experience of seeking deep political action, this case demonstrates the ways in which transdisciplinary partnerships create liminal spaces that open possibilities for pedagogic and social change. The study outlines the enactment of an arts, education and civic partnership occurring inAustin, Texas in 2005 centered in a community-based study of the Holocaust. The study seeks answers to the following questions: (a) How did community leaders envision and enact the community-based partnership Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project?; (b) In what ways, if any, were the artistic, education and civic events amplified through the collaborative partnership Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project?; and (c) What pedagogical possibilities occur for audiences experiencing the dance work Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project? The case demonstrates the possibilities for expanding educational impact through a community integration process, characterized by the alignment of school-based and community-based learning activities located outside traditional educational spaces using a transdisciplinary approach that combines multiple forms of representation. The embedded case of the dance reveals pedagogical possibilities for Holocaust education made possible through the dance, Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project. While limitations of the form inhibit the conveyance of dense historical content, it opens possibility for exploration of dense emotional content. A close examination of the construction of the dance provides an entry point for students into important conversations about the history and representation of the Holocaust. The case study demonstrates the ways in which the Light Project engaged civic capacities through expanded participation, enhanced public awareness, and enhanced capacity for convening civic dialogue and contributions to public discourse. This study describes the ways in which resonance, assurances and the catalyzing forces of leaders support the effective implementation of partnerships.