| Description |
The current global political climate has given rise to a refugee crisis that continues to grow in; scope and in effects. Modernization and the capitalistic globalism of economy and industry have created power structures rooted in western hegemony. These root causes have led to political instability and ethnic tensions, resulting in forced migration. Utah takes in many refugees, and local organizations that work with refugee youth have worked to implement initiatives to create connections between refugee students and their communities. This research explored the experience of resettled refugee students in a photography class and the intersections between community, art, and empowerment. This study offers recommendations for empowering students through creative mediums, and speaks to the importance of allowing refugee students to explore identities that are not tied to the label of "refugee." The study found that refugee students are not interested in creating art to explore or heal trauma, or share stories of their past. The students preferred to use the space where they created photography as a means of exploring: exploring community, exploring artistic identities, and exploring possibilities. Comedy and creation intersected, as the students explored identity and used laughter to find inclusion and make sense of new places, spaces, and social contexts. |
