Altamira Press Ethnodrama: An Anthology of Reality Theatre (Crossroads in Qualitative Inquiry): 4

Ethnodrama: An Anthology of Reality Theatre contains seven carefully-selected ethnodramas that best illustrate this emerging genre of arts-based research, a burgeoning but evident trend in the field of theatre production itself. In his introduction to ethnodrama and to the plays themselves, Salda-a emphasizes how a credible, vivid, and persuasive rendering of a research participant's story as a theatrical performance creates insights for both researcher and audience not possible through conventional qualitative data analysis. With their focus on the personal, immediate and contextual, these plays about marginalized identities, abortion, street life and oppression manage a unique balance between theoretical research and everyday realism. Review What a splendid opportunity Professor Saldaña gives us here to help qualitative researchers learn more about the genre of research known as ethnodrama. Following his excellent overview, he provides examples of three types of reality theatre--monologue, dialogue, and ethnodramatic 'extension'--including the full text from seven of these productions. Bravo for this much needed resource.--Harry F. Wolcott, University of Oregon; (d. 2012) This is a glorious book that breaks new ground in research methodology and data representation. Effectively advancing a form of performative arts-based research, its anthology of plays illustrates a blurring of the fields of theatre and ethnography. Through powerful examples, it teaches both qualitative researchers and producers of theatre important lessons about how to entertain audiences while also informing them about important social issues.--Tom Barone, Arizona State University ...[This] book is an important addition to the broad field of performance that extends into other disciplines and embraces more than aesthetic goals. Ethnodrama advocates for drama as a form of qualitative research that brings more voices to the public and as an occasion for valuable dialogue between actors and audiences.--Jan Cohen-Cruz "Forum: Qualitative Social Research " About the Author Johnny Salda-a is a Professor of Theatre at Arizona State University.