- Title
- Isadora duncan: An instrumental case study
- Creator
- Volker,Lauren
- Subject
- Analytical Psychology
- Subject
- Psychology of women
- Date Issued
- 2023-12
- Date
- 2023-12
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63038
- Identifier
- vital:73084
- Description
- The study is an instrumental case study of Isadora Duncan (1877 - 1927). She was a pioneer of modern dance as she developed her unique style of dance that was free-flowing and natural. She further developed her own dance philosophy, which drew the attention of many as its archetypal dancer was a woman who embodied a space that was equal and free. She was not only revolutionary in her unique dance style but also for her strong beliefs. Isadora Duncan believed in anti-marriage, bearing children out of wedlock, and fighting for the emancipation of women where she used dance, her philosophy and post-performance lectures to communicate her thoughts and beliefs. An Instrumental case study is a qualitative method of enquiry, which entails researching an event or individual as a means of providing or gaining insight into a particular phenomenon. Similar to that of a psychobiography, the individual subject can be explored through the lens of a psychological theory for the purpose of creating a coherent psychological case study. The psychoanalytical lens of Carl Jung was used to explore and describe certain aspects of the life and work of Isadora Duncan. The subfield of the Psychology of Women provides a contextual description for the challenges that women faced in the past and in the present, and additionally presents the primary aim of the proposed study. Isadora Duncan was chosen due to her unique dance movement, both literally and figuratively as she developed her ability in giving voice to those emotions that women often kept hidden. She lived during significant times which included radical transformations that brought about noticeable change politically, socially, and culturally. Despite the reformative motions, it did not dismiss its own challenges especially for women. Women faced a constant struggle for freedom from oppression, community rights and gender equality, and Isadora Duncan was no exception to these challenges. Extensive biographical information data was collected and processed into salient features. The study integrates the theory of Carl Jung, the life and dance philosophy of Isadora Duncan and the v challenges faced by women over the centuries and demonstrates the value of using an instrumental case study as a method of inquiry into the exploration of a unique individual. The Psychology of Women provides an understanding of how those past challenges may still be modern-day concerns for the psychology of women today. The findings of the study demonstrated that Isadora Duncan was a unique and innovate women who pushed the boundaries socially. She was determined to perform her unique dance style in times that required women to conform to the cultural expectations. However, in times of trouble and despair, she was able to turn to dance as the individual and collective voice. The contribution of the study rests with its demonstration of the value of a holistic and reflexive exploration of a unique individual woman. It demonstrates the value and application of Jung’s in-depth theoretical understanding of the archetypes in human behaviour and the use of dance as a healing process for psychologically wounded women. Therefore, specific reference to the true inner voice of women allows insight into how clinicians might assist female clients who struggle to release their true inner voice. Furthermore, the study contributes to building knowledge of the challenges that women face in society and allows for future research of exploring integrative theoretical frameworks in understanding the healing of psychologically fragmented women in the 21st century.
- Description
- Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (XXX pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Science
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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NMU School of Clinical Care Sciences
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Volker, L.pdf | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |