| Description |
This thesis is a culmination of performative research investigating the term "isolation" through the medium of dance. This research addresses the following questions: What is isolation? How are technological advancements including smartphones and social media affecting isolation in U.S. society today? What are the psychological effects of isolated states on human beings? How can isolation be investigated as a complex idea through movement? What can dance reveal about isolation through the choreographic process? This thesis consists of three main sections. In Chapter 1, I share my personal reasons for studying isolation and my concerns with ideas of abstraction versus emotion in the choreographic context. I attempt to dissect the term isolation in order to comprehend its complex meanings and connotations, as well as address personal themes and questions in my own life. The second chapter defines the term isolation within the context of this research and acknowledges the concerns facing U.S. society today regarding changes in social interaction, due to rapid technological advances. I discuss the psychological effects of isolation and the contexts in which isolation exists, as well as introduce dance as a viable method for qualitative research. The third chapter analyzes three choreographic studies entitled: Isolation, Three Studies of Isolation, and Seven Parts. These works were created over the span of two years from June 2017 to December 2018. These studies reveal my findings about what isolation means for myself as a person and artist, and how isolation is exposed through the choreographic process. The conclusion summarizes the findings of this research and discusses further questions and applications to contemporary American society. I also synthesize my own personal discoveries about isolation and the choreographic process. iv |
