title: Dynamic Conditioning: Preparation of actors for the delivery of dynamic performance

authors: Sturgess-Monks, Nicholas

subjects: dynamic

abstract: This thesis represents an attempt to establish, and develop, a methodology for the preparation of actors for delivery of a physically and vocally dynamic performance, informed by the fact of theatrical immediacy. Specifically, this can be understood as a systematised collection of exercises and principles that are conducive to such an intent. The effectiveness of the conditioning exercises engaged in were tested through the preparation and staging of The Best Thing!, a full-length play, for public audience.

A structural division has been made in this document between theoretical research and practical elements. In Chapter 1 can be discovered the progression of theory that informed the development of exercises engaged in, as well as stylistic intentions. The paradigmatic state of the modern theatre is discussed, in relation to the new performative mediums of film and television, concluding that a formal shift is required in theatre if it is to continue to be justified as a relevant artistic medium in contemporary culture. This is formed with reference to the prior work of a range of theatrical practitioners and theorists of the past century.

In Chapter 2 the successive stages of practical research undertaken are discussed. Beginning with the training investigations, continuing into a discussion of rehearsal processes, and culminating with an analysis of The Best Thing! in this specific staged form, with attention given to its success with respect to the performance Dynamics identified in the research previously enacted.

Documentary material, regarding investigative processes and theoretical development may be found within the Appendices. This includes a detailed dramaturgical analysis, a narrative deconstruction of The Best Thing!, and a complete elaboration of the activities and exercises engaged in during the research process. Several videos are also included, providing practical demonstration of events discussed.

text: Dynamic Conditioning: Preparation of actors for the delivery of dynamic performance This thesis represents an attempt to establish, and develop, a methodology for the preparation of actors for delivery of a physically and vocally dynamic performance, informed by the fact of theatrical immediacy. Specifically, this can be understood as a systematised collection of exercises and principles that are conducive to such an intent. The effectiveness of the conditioning exercises engaged in were tested through the preparation and staging of The Best Thing!, a full-length play, for public audience.

A structural division has been made in this document between theoretical research and practical elements. In Chapter 1 can be discovered the progression of theory that informed the development of exercises engaged in, as well as stylistic intentions. The paradigmatic state of the modern theatre is discussed, in relation to the new performative mediums of film and television, concluding that a formal shift is required in theatre if it is to continue to be justified as a relevant artistic medium in contemporary culture. This is formed with reference to the prior work of a range of theatrical practitioners and theorists of the past century.

In Chapter 2 the successive stages of practical research undertaken are discussed. Beginning with the training investigations, continuing into a discussion of rehearsal processes, and culminating with an analysis of The Best Thing! in this specific staged form, with attention given to its success with respect to the performance Dynamics identified in the research previously enacted.

Documentary material, regarding investigative processes and theoretical development may be found within the Appendices. This includes a detailed dramaturgical analysis, a narrative deconstruction of The Best Thing!, and a complete elaboration of the activities and exercises engaged in during the research process. Several videos are also included, providing practical demonstration of events discussed.

year: 2013

title: Improving student learning? Research evidence about teacher feedback for improvement in New Zealand schools.

authors: Eyers, Gayle

subjects: students

abstract: The importance of giving both evaluative and descriptive feedback to improve learning and achievement has been confirmed through research. This paper draws on assessment and feedback research to interrogate the evidence about how well teachers use feedback in New Zealand classrooms. It reveals that there is very little New Zealand research that investigates NZ teachers' use of feedback. Those studies that do investigate teachers' use of assessment information show that very little of the information gained from assessment is used to inform students about how to improve. More often teachers praise students, give unspecific information about their work and use the data gathered about students' competence and skills for school-wide aggregation and evidence of meeting targets. Questions are raised about why this might be the case, how professional development might be implicated in this and how the situation might be improved through wider policy alignment at both local and national levels.

text: Improving student learning? Research evidence about teacher feedback for improvement in New Zealand schools. The importance of giving both evaluative and descriptive feedback to improve learning and achievement has been confirmed through research. This paper draws on assessment and feedback research to interrogate the evidence about how well teachers use feedback in New Zealand classrooms. It reveals that there is very little New Zealand research that investigates NZ teachers' use of feedback. Those studies that do investigate teachers' use of assessment information show that very little of the information gained from assessment is used to inform students about how to improve. More often teachers praise students, give unspecific information about their work and use the data gathered about students' competence and skills for school-wide aggregation and evidence of meeting targets. Questions are raised about why this might be the case, how professional development might be implicated in this and how the situation might be improved through wider policy alignment at both local and national levels.

year: 2004

title: The Determinants of Tribal Population Growth in the New Zealand Census

authors: Rarere, Moana

subjects: tribal population growth

abstract: By the early twentieth century the notion that ethnic populations would dissipate was a commonly held belief.  However, after World War II, the modern world has seen an incredible resurgence in ethnic identities.  Ethnic conflicts, mobilisations, and the political movements of the 1950s and 1960s served as a major catalyst in the diffusion of indigenous identities and rights.  Consequently, indigenous groups in settler states, especially in North America, experienced population growth beyond the levels of natural demographic factors, that is, fertility, mortality and migration.  Researchers attributed a significant proportion of this growth to changing patterns of ethnic identification, also referred to as ethnic mobility .  Although this phenomenon is well documented in North America, it is only just beginning to be understood in relation to the New Zealand context. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, the indigenous Māori population of New Zealand gained substantial progress in political, social and economic spheres, following the same patterns of ethnic identity growth as in North America.  Despite these gains, the average individual socio-economic outcomes for Māori remain poor, especially in comparison to New Zealand Europeans/Pākehā.  Through key legislation, iwi (tribal) organisations became the core mechanism in which to address Māori socio-economic issues, achieve Māori aspirations and to manage Treaty of Waitangi settlement monies.  Subsequently, the need for iwi statistics for policy and planning purposes saw the reinstatement of iwi data in the New Zealand census in 1991.  Surprisingly, however, very little attention has been given to contemporary patterns of iwi demography.

Since the 1991 census, observations of total iwi population growth patterns indicate these patterns cannot solely be explained by natural demographic factors.  Furthermore, the growth trajectories of individual iwi were markedly different, and in some cases erratic.  These initial observations have raised the following key research questions: What do patterns of iwi growth look like?  What is the role of ethnic mobility?  What factors drive ethnic mobility?  Who changes iwi identification?  Why should we care?  

This thesis examines patterns of iwi identification in the New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings from 1991 to 2006.  It uses statistical methods to not only document iwi population changes but to also identify the key determinants driving these trajectories.  In addition, this thesis considers ethnic mobility as an important driver of population growth but, situates this within the broader macro-political environment.  Along with the analysis of aggregate iwi population changes, this thesis also provides an in-depth analysis of four iwi groups – Ngāi Tahu, Waikato, Ngāti Awa and Tūhoe, in order to observe individual iwi dynamics that are not clearly visible at the aggregate level.

The findings of this thesis raise important implications for theories of ethnicity and the demographic study of ethnic populations.  For example, this thesis argues that the category of ethnic mobility is mainly contextual, that is, decisions to change ethnic responses are influenced by the broader political, social and economic contexts.  Furthermore this thesis contends that individual ethnic identification decisions are for the most part defined by ethnic categories imposed by the State.  While traditional views suggest ethnicity is fixed, intrinsic and kinship based, this thesis finds significant support for contemporary views that argue ethnicity is fluid, extrinsic and socially constructed.  Rather than reject traditional views of Maori identity, this study recognises that ethnic identities are complex, and that shifts in iwi identification is about connecting and reconnecting with whakapapa.  Thus this thesis argues that in order to understand individual iwi dynamics both points of view need to be considered.

text: The Determinants of Tribal Population Growth in the New Zealand Census By the early twentieth century the notion that ethnic populations would dissipate was a commonly held belief.  However, after World War II, the modern world has seen an incredible resurgence in ethnic identities.  Ethnic conflicts, mobilisations, and the political movements of the 1950s and 1960s served as a major catalyst in the diffusion of indigenous identities and rights.  Consequently, indigenous groups in settler states, especially in North America, experienced population growth beyond the levels of natural demographic factors, that is, fertility, mortality and migration.  Researchers attributed a significant proportion of this growth to changing patterns of ethnic identification, also referred to as ethnic mobility .  Although this phenomenon is well documented in North America, it is only just beginning to be understood in relation to the New Zealand context. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, the indigenous Māori population of New Zealand gained substantial progress in political, social and economic spheres, following the same patterns of ethnic identity growth as in North America.  Despite these gains, the average individual socio-economic outcomes for Māori remain poor, especially in comparison to New Zealand Europeans/Pākehā.  Through key legislation, iwi (tribal) organisations became the core mechanism in which to address Māori socio-economic issues, achieve Māori aspirations and to manage Treaty of Waitangi settlement monies.  Subsequently, the need for iwi statistics for policy and planning purposes saw the reinstatement of iwi data in the New Zealand census in 1991.  Surprisingly, however, very little attention has been given to contemporary patterns of iwi demography.

Since the 1991 census, observations of total iwi population growth patterns indicate these patterns cannot solely be explained by natural demographic factors.  Furthermore, the growth trajectories of individual iwi were markedly different, and in some cases erratic.  These initial observations have raised the following key research questions: What do patterns of iwi growth look like?  What is the role of ethnic mobility?  What factors drive ethnic mobility?  Who changes iwi identification?  Why should we care?  

This thesis examines patterns of iwi identification in the New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings from 1991 to 2006.  It uses statistical methods to not only document iwi population changes but to also identify the key determinants driving these trajectories.  In addition, this thesis considers ethnic mobility as an important driver of population growth but, situates this within the broader macro-political environment.  Along with the analysis of aggregate iwi population changes, this thesis also provides an in-depth analysis of four iwi groups – Ngāi Tahu, Waikato, Ngāti Awa and Tūhoe, in order to observe individual iwi dynamics that are not clearly visible at the aggregate level.

The findings of this thesis raise important implications for theories of ethnicity and the demographic study of ethnic populations.  For example, this thesis argues that the category of ethnic mobility is mainly contextual, that is, decisions to change ethnic responses are influenced by the broader political, social and economic contexts.  Furthermore this thesis contends that individual ethnic identification decisions are for the most part defined by ethnic categories imposed by the State.  While traditional views suggest ethnicity is fixed, intrinsic and kinship based, this thesis finds significant support for contemporary views that argue ethnicity is fluid, extrinsic and socially constructed.  Rather than reject traditional views of Maori identity, this study recognises that ethnic identities are complex, and that shifts in iwi identification is about connecting and reconnecting with whakapapa.  Thus this thesis argues that in order to understand individual iwi dynamics both points of view need to be considered.

year: 2012