Browsing by Author "Pearse-Otene, Helen"
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- ItemPerforming pūrākau : liberating bodies, healing wairua, and reclaiming ancestral wisdom : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2021) Pearse-Otene, HelenStudies by government agencies and advocacy groups report that Māori women and children are more vulnerable to experiencing family violence, sexual abuse, and incest than Pākehā. They acknowledge colonisation and historical trauma as contributing factors, and call for a systems-focused response to tackling sexual violence. This includes providing access to contextually responsive and culturally appropriate interventions. This study initially aimed to explore traditional Māori understandings of incest and healing from sexual trauma that are embedded in the pūrākau (ancestral story) of Hinetītama/Hinenui Te Pō, and her parents, Hineahuone and Tānemahuta. As it would apply a unique Māori theatre pedagogy called Theatre Marae, the project was then expanded to investigate the utility and potential of this innovative approach, which draws together Māori and non-Māori performance traditions, therapeutic models, Māori language, and customs in a process for creative inquiry. In pursuing these two activities, the resulting thesis comprises three publications. In the first article (chapter 2), I unpack the conceptual framework of Theatre Marae pedagogy as a suitable approach for kaupapa Māori (by Māori, for Māori) arts-based research against the backdrop of growing scholarship in Indigenous research and psychologies. In the second article (chapter 3), I deepen this exploration into Theatre Marae and its core methods within an historical account of the theatre company most associated with the practice, Te Rākau. The third article (chapter 4) builds on the preceding chapters by returning to the initial focus of this study and describing how Theatre Marae was applied in a performance-based analysis of this ancient pūrākau as a narrative of survival and healing. The analysis revealed new themes that highlight the collectivist customs of traditional Māori society as protective factors against the proliferation of sexual violence and incest. When drawn together in this thesis, these articles and contextualising discussion illustrate how Māori ancestral knowledge can inform the development of more culturally responsive therapies for recovery from historic sexual trauma. Furthermore, in presenting Theatre Marae to the realm of kaupapa Māori research, this thesis contributes to an international agenda to decolonise research in ways that are emancipatory, healing, and transformative for Indigenous communities.
- ItemStaging areas : Vietnam veterans from Aotearoa-New Zealand and therapeutic landscapes in black box theatre : an exegisis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2016) Pearse-Otene, HelenThe purpose of this exegesis is to document my attempt to ride the practice-theory divide in an arts-based research project on therapeutic landscapes and war veterans from Aotearoa-New Zealand. Over a period of nine months, a group of Vietnam veterans engaged in photo-elicitation methods to explore the concept of therapeutic landscapes from their unique and subjective experiences as former personnel of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Of particular interest was to understand how veterans construct narratives of self-hood and wellbeing, as impacted upon by their service in an unpopular war, and their subsequent treatment by the government and public in the years hence. The data produced by the veterans was analysed and transformed into a draft script; then in collaboration with Te Rākau (a Māori community theatre group), the script and its underlying themes were re-worked in the studio using principles and techniques specific to theatre making. The studio inquiry produced a picture of Vietnam veterans as highly motivated individuals who are politically cognisant, loyal to their cohort, media savvy, self sufficient, and who continue to draw upon their Army training to measure and maintain optimum physical health in their senior years. Key themes that emerged from the data was their belief in taking individual responsibility for one’s health, an appreciation of alternative and complementary therapies as part of self-care, and a collective opinion that the current model of government support is inadequate and difficult for veterans to access. These and other findings were disseminated via a live presentation of the work-in-progress, which provided opportunity for further analysis by the veterans, and resulted in the creation of a final play-script, The Landeaters. Finally, by sharing excerpts from my production diary, this exegesis explores my input as a student researcher-artist, and, in doing so, brings to light both professional and personal challenges that may occur when practising arts-based inquiry with one’s community – and on a topic close to one’s heart.