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CHAPTER FIVE: DATA ANALYSIS
What Understanding or Ouestions are Opened?
Based on the data of the focus group interviews and the guestionnaires
I analysed the understanding and the guestions generated in the second cycle.
The responses have been separated into two categories, understanding created
about social processes, and understanding about themselves. Ihough I am
aware that these territories are strongly intertwined I will be looking at these
separately to make them more accessible. A third subject of understanding
was also present in reflections; the participants raised awareness of artistic
form which is reflected to some degree in the guotes in the previous section.
Reflections on Society
Though Wild Child did not build on any specific social issue it is striking to
see the variety of social concerns reflected on and the diversity of aspects of
social life criticised by participants in relation to the drama lessons.
One issue that related to their role as instructors of the feral child was
education. Participants reflected on the values reflected on in schooling in the
questions raised: “Isn’t it more important for her to learn music, than to comb
her hair or not eat with her hands?”
Participants also considered issues relating to the true nature of our society
and way of life: “how absurd our world is, it is really strange, the way we
live”.”° This remark connects with the questions related to reality and fiction,
true and artificial. The change of perspective brought about by the mixture
of animal and human qualities triggered this thought: “the whole point was
to look at what is actually important and what’s artificial. If you are looking
at the world from her perspective then you can see the difference”? One
participant noted that the child’s responses would be more genuine because
she lacked preconceptions.’” There were also specific questions about values
expressed in different situations, for example concerning gender issues:
“It was interesting that no one really went for that. That she should dress up
as a girl, the type of clothes she should wear. Usually people think that these
are important, but here they became additional things, because people were
focusing on the real problems”.’”®
The question of authority was also raised. “It made me think about why
people want power, why do they want to rule over each other”’” and this
724 F Wb.
75 Tbid.
726 F Wa.
727 Tbid.
728 F Wa.
79 Q Wa.
+ 224 +