title: Towards an ethical dramaturgy : a practice-led research project on verbatim theatre

authors: Mooney, Miriam (Missy)

subjects: Verbatim theatre

abstract: Verbatim theatre can be understood as the process of collecting verbatim material from real people, usually through recorded interviews, and using it to create a performance text that can be subsequently re-presented by actors in a dramatic context. This thesis argues that the creation of verbatim theatre from the words, experiences and lives of real people is simultaneously a dramaturgical and ethical task. Verbatim theatre practitioners such as Moisés Kaufman, Alecky Blythe, Hilary Halba and Stuart Young acknowledge the ethical responsibility theatre makers feel to honour and accurately re-present their interviewees in their work. However, there is a gap in the collective discourse on verbatim theatre regarding how consideration of the ethical obligations theatre makers have to their interviewees influences the dramaturgical processes and construction of their work. 

This thesis is primarily concerned with the process of creating verbatim theatre, and uses practice-led and action research methodologies to examine what ethical practice during this process could be. This research used the creation of an original verbatim play titled Strong Female Characters to explore the ethical construction of verbatim theatre. Reflection on this process, combined with examination of the practice of other verbatim theatre makers, informs the key findings of this thesis. In addition to Strong Female Characters and a written thesis this research has prompted the creation of a manifesto that serves as a succinct chapter of this thesis and offers examples of some of the different ways ethical practice could be considered by the verbatim theatre maker and incorporated into their creative and dramaturgical practice.

text: Towards an ethical dramaturgy : a practice-led research project on verbatim theatre Verbatim theatre can be understood as the process of collecting verbatim material from real people, usually through recorded interviews, and using it to create a performance text that can be subsequently re-presented by actors in a dramatic context. This thesis argues that the creation of verbatim theatre from the words, experiences and lives of real people is simultaneously a dramaturgical and ethical task. Verbatim theatre practitioners such as Moisés Kaufman, Alecky Blythe, Hilary Halba and Stuart Young acknowledge the ethical responsibility theatre makers feel to honour and accurately re-present their interviewees in their work. However, there is a gap in the collective discourse on verbatim theatre regarding how consideration of the ethical obligations theatre makers have to their interviewees influences the dramaturgical processes and construction of their work. 

This thesis is primarily concerned with the process of creating verbatim theatre, and uses practice-led and action research methodologies to examine what ethical practice during this process could be. This research used the creation of an original verbatim play titled Strong Female Characters to explore the ethical construction of verbatim theatre. Reflection on this process, combined with examination of the practice of other verbatim theatre makers, informs the key findings of this thesis. In addition to Strong Female Characters and a written thesis this research has prompted the creation of a manifesto that serves as a succinct chapter of this thesis and offers examples of some of the different ways ethical practice could be considered by the verbatim theatre maker and incorporated into their creative and dramaturgical practice.

year: 2019

title: Social capital and budgeting in a local church

authors: Sharma, Umesh Prasad

abstract: The purpose of this chapter is to examine the budgeting process in a local church from a social capital perspective. The social capital provides novel insights into the construction of budgets and its social aspects. A qualitative case study was adopted, with an interpretive methodology. Semi-structured interviews were used to interview 14 managers involved in the budgeting process at a local independent church. The interview data were supplemented by documentary evidence. Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) framework of social capital was used to analyse the data. The main finding was that budgeting was found to be a social process – that can best be explained by social capital theory. There may be an element of self-selection, as the church agreed to participate in the study and chose to allow a researcher to examine social aspects of its budgeting process. The chapter contributes to both social capital theory and church literature. Social capital provides novel insights into the construction of budgets and its social aspects. In addition, contemporary budgeting practices are studied in a church in a denomination and country not previously studied.

text: Social capital and budgeting in a local church The purpose of this chapter is to examine the budgeting process in a local church from a social capital perspective. The social capital provides novel insights into the construction of budgets and its social aspects. A qualitative case study was adopted, with an interpretive methodology. Semi-structured interviews were used to interview 14 managers involved in the budgeting process at a local independent church. The interview data were supplemented by documentary evidence. Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) framework of social capital was used to analyse the data. The main finding was that budgeting was found to be a social process – that can best be explained by social capital theory. There may be an element of self-selection, as the church agreed to participate in the study and chose to allow a researcher to examine social aspects of its budgeting process. The chapter contributes to both social capital theory and church literature. Social capital provides novel insights into the construction of budgets and its social aspects. In addition, contemporary budgeting practices are studied in a church in a denomination and country not previously studied.

year: 2023-10-24

title: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm

authors: El-Gamel, Adam

subjects: Ascending aortic aneurysm

abstract: OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

text: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

year: 2022-09-09