Education through Expression: Supporting Youth Performance as a Tool for Coexistence Building in East Jerusalem
Loading...
Authors
Bruckenstein, Rebecca
Issue Date
2016-04-01
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Israeli-Palestinian conflict , Jerusalem , Youth performance , Cross-cultural relations
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Israel/Palestine conflict has a way of repeating itself; a way of crisscrossing in and out of the headlines of mainstream international media, often remaining as a spotlight to ongoing problems in the Middle East more broadly. Peace talks have started and ended and begun again, but little progress is made when both sides claim stake to the land. There is a growing roar from civil society on both sides that changes must be made, while the changes may be different they stem from the hope for safety and freedom. These people are split both mentally and physically by a wall but there is hope yet. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians which seem to dominate the discussion is not the only story to be told, there is a story of hope, a story of the arts being used as a tool for education and for self-expression. This hope is being provided by arts programming that allows for Israeli and Palestinian youths to create works together, which allows them to have an outlet for their emotions and provides them with a non-violent path to resistance. By highlighting these stories and by creating a new performance based- alternative to this conflict with an original peace and implantation plan, perhaps a new door can be opened on a path towards coexistence and ultimately peace.