Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses CAHSS Theses and Dissertations and Dissertations 1-1-2017 Painting our conflicts: A Thematic Analysis Study on The role of artists in peacemaking and conflict resolution Kumail M. Almusaly Nova Southeastern University, ka419@nova.edu This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.edu/shss_dcar_etd Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Kumail M.
Painting our conflicts: A Thematic Analysis Study on The role of artists in peacemaking and conflict resolution. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies.edu/shss_dcar_etd/60. This Dissertation is brought to you by the CAHSS Theses and Dissertations at NSUWorks.
It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact nsuworks@nova. Painting our conflicts: A Thematic Analysis Study on The role of artists in peacemaking and conflict resolution by Kumail Almusaly A Dissertation Presented to the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences of Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University 2016 Copyright © by Kumail Almusaly December 2016 Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences This dissertation was submitted by Kumail Almusaly under the direction of the chair of the dissertation committee listed below. It was submitted to the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and approved in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University.
Approved: Date of Defense Jas-on"tampbell, Ph. Member, Dissertation Committee Neil Katz, Ph. Member, Dissertation Committee (?le/� Date of Final Approval Table of Contents List of Figures .viii Chapter 1: The Introduction .1 Statement of the Problem .11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .15 Dynamics Between Art and Conflict Resolution .19 Art and Society .27 Art, War and Terrorism .35 Definition of Art .40 Social Exchange Theory .43 Chapter 3: Research Method .48 Artist Abbas Almusawi .49 Artist Abdulnasser Gharem.49 Why they were chosen for the interview .68 Analysis: Identifying Problems .72 Partnering with NGO’s .74 Analysis: Partnering with NGO’s .90 Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusions .96 ii The Artists’ Works .98 Works by Other Artists .139 Appendix A: Consent Form for Participation .144 Appendix B: Recruitment Letter .147 iii List of Figures Figure 1. The Gulf War by Mohammed Almusaly.
Smoking by Mohamed Almusaly. The pain by Mohammed Almusaly. Leave my land by Mohammed Almusaly. The cry of the land by Mohammed Almusaly.
Almosawi with Bahrain Environmental Society. A child participating in the art activity to protect the environment. Flora and Fauna, performance art by Abdulnasser Gharem. Painting for peace in the corridors of the Palais des Nations, Geneva 1997.
Peace and Love project by Almosawi in Moscow in 1996. Painting for peace in the new millennium at the lone tree in the desert known as the 'Tree of Life', 1994. Peace project by Almosawi painting with children at Arad Fort in 1994. Artist Almosawi painting reflecting on the Gulf War.
Artist Almosawi painting reflecting on the Gulf War. A work by Almosawi representing the last 24 hours before the beginning of the war to liberate Kuwait. Abbas Almosawi’s work as a reflection on 9/11. Painting for peace a project by Almosawi with the United Nations, Geneva 2005.
Painting for peace a project by Almosawi with the United Nations, Geneva 2005. Almosawi in discussion with Amer Moussa, the Arab League Secretary General. Message/Messenger by Abdulnasser Gharem. The Capitol Dome by Abdulnasser Gharem.
The Stamp-Moujaz by Abdulnasser Gharem. Pause, Gharem’s intake on 9/11. Pedesterian crossings by Abdulnasser Gharem. Rubber Stamps used in Gharem’s work.
Fighter by Abdulnasser Gharem. Camouflage by Abdlunasser Gharem. Abdulnasser Gharem’s Hemisphere. Men at Work by Abdulnasser Gharem.
Grafitti at refugee camp by Mesa. Grafitti in refugee camp by Mesa. Painting in Sahrawi Camp by Mesa. Grefiiti by Mesa in refugee camp in Algeria.
Self-portriat of Artist Abdessamed being beheaded by his father. Bird Scolpture by Abdessamed. Headbutt Sculpture by Adel Abdessamed. Refugee boat filled with garbage bag, artwork by Abdessamed.
Iraqi Artist Ammar Alsalem with his paiting reflecting at ISIS crimes in Iraq. Artist Alsaem in his Studio. Artwork made from war scarps by Ali Alwakwak. Anime de Materia by Ali Alwak wak.
Simling faces made from soldires helmets by Alwakwak. war art by Alwakwak. unbreakable by Almohasen. Almohasen reflecting on conflicts through the art.
fighter jet in Almohen painting. Artist Almohasen during live performance. war mechines in almohasen’s work. Graffiti art by Almohasen reflecting on war and conflict.
Yo Mama by Artist Hassan Mousa. I have a drone by artist Hassan Mousa. Halal Flage by Hassan Mousa. El Seed Artwork exhibited in Dubai.
El Seed Grafitti photographed by Hichem Merouche. El Seed Grafitti on fifty buildings in Cairo. El Seed Mural in Cape Town South Africa. A Mural by El Seed.
Ghannom paintins exhibited in Natherlands. Arabic Calligraphy by Ghannom. Sand Rushes in photographed by Sama Alshaibi. To Eat Bread by Sama Alshaibi.
Payload, from project warhead by Sama Alshiabi. Freedom Grafitti by Tammam Azzam. An image of bombed Strian Building flying in Londong by Tammam Azzam. Tammam Azzam ‘Matisse’.
Tammam Azzam’s ‘Dali’. Tammam Azzam’s ‘Goya’. Tammam Azzam’s ‘Andy Warhol’. Tammam Azzam’s ‘Gogan’.
Buddy Bear project by Zaman Jassim. Peace By Zaman Jassim.137 vii Abstract Artists have involved with their different styles and approaches to help resolving conflicts all over the world. They help in raising awareness of different conflicts through their activities that engage people with art. The creative elements of the art also help in exploring various means of conflict resolution and problem solving (Lumsden, 1997).
This study examines the role of artist in society in the framework of conflict resolution and peacemaking. A qualitative research method is used in this research, which in result provides a better understanding of the work of Middle Eastern artists. The research includes in-depth interviews with two artists from the Gulf countries: Abbas Almosawi; a Bahraini artist, and Abdulnasser Gharem; a Saudi artist. The focus of this research is to identify the roles that artists play in society with respect to conflict resolution and peacemaking.
Through utilizing a thematic analysis method to analyze the data, the finding identified six roles the artist plays in the society: 1) Observation. 4) Partnering with NGO’s. The research is also an attempt to shed the light on aspects that can help conflict resolution practitioners to apply the arts for their benefits and increase the effectiveness of their work. The research includes examples of art activities as well as artworks from various artists from the Middle East that show the level of involvement of art in conflict resolution and peacemaking.
viii 1 Chapter 1: The Introduction Introduction The course of writing this dissertation is a huge step in the academic life. Carving such an astonishing journey in the writing has impacted and influenced my academic progress enormously. When this work began, I thought it would be the end of my academic life as a student. Nevertheless, reality proves that time and place are not necessarily accurate tools to measure the learning process.
The eager for development and empowerment drives us through various channels to absorb the proper knowledge needed for those ambitions. This work has enabled me to critically examine existing facts about the field of conflict resolution and to analytically reason its relationship with other fields. I have always been interested in human interaction and have been attracted to the matters that can enhance it. With regards to this paper, the intent of this proposal is to examine the relationship between the field of conflict resolution and the field of art.
Art is a very powerful tool that has the ability to impact how individuals interact within a community. As Hawes (2007) stated, “Art can influence the way people interpret, perceive, and ultimately act in their communities”. There is a need to examine the dynamics between art and social science to understand this influence from the art on individual and how artists are using the arts to create social changes. The intent of this research developed out of conviction and concern for peacemaking as well as to invite other fields and engage them with conflict resolution approaches.
Testing the outcomes that are generated by this converge produces an opportunity to appreciate how advancing the work can be. Curiosity in this matter drives 2 my ambition to comprehend how artists work in the presence of a conflict and whether their work helps resolve the conflict. I am also curious to know how a conflict can be provocative to an artist and how it brings to his attention the obligation to act against its presence. To reach that level of comprehension, however, there is a need to test that inevitable existence of the relationship and the truth behind it.
Examining the existence of conflict provides a series of lenses from which we can understand the nature of the relationship and how the factors interact with each other. We can then benefit the field of conflict resolution by providing other possible means to affect conflicts rapidly. This can happen through engaging community members who are not necessarily experts in resolving conflicts but can rather make a huge difference. Throughout history, art has had so many uses, namely spiritual, political, social, economic, and historical.
However, the function and effects of art are not subjected and limited to the individual as an artist. It exceeds that to form an access for achievement, accomplishment, and possibly creating change. There are several arguments that have discussed art’s functionality trying to reach a true understanding of what art is and what it can do, which is discussed later on in this paper. In addition, there is an interference of understanding whether art is good or bad/or what is good art.
Generally speaking, art can serve both ways depending on how the artist is implementing it and what his intentions are. For instance, it can be used in political confrontations to create a propaganda that serve one party over another and indeed will be favored by one and hated by the other. As Belfiore and Bennett (2008) mentioned “Art as propaganda has a long history”. Artists 3 can use the power of image that can communicate to many people from different ethnic backgrounds, race, and religious; they can also, with the use of image, transcend the limitation of language and literacy.
With one image they can convey a lot of messages and tackle people’s emotions or create fear with in them. Art is subjected, constantly, to the recipient taste which varies from a person to the other. However, the message contained within the artwork go beyond the matter of taste and still get the message crossed. Fauvism, for instance, can be very disturbing to many people; nonetheless, it serves the artist who wants to emphasize individual expression.
Provided that, art can be so beneficial to conflict resolution and to the society in general despite the way people implement it or perceive it. There are many shared features between conflict resolution and the arts. They both contain a dynamic structure within them that is based on interaction. Moreover, both of these fields can influence human interaction and can lead to social change.
The group dynamics and the social structure might be shaped differently during the process of resolving the conflict (Mannix, 2003). Art can be seen as an evidence that lead to the existence of humanity and can visually convey a lot about the individual understanding of human interaction. It also constructs a reflection of humanity and human existence.