PhD Oral Exam - Arianna Garcia Fialdini, Art Education

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

In an increasingly unsettled and tense time for moving and finding ones’ place in the world, many daily challenges for newcomers to Canada go largely unnoticed under the promise of brighter futures. Nevertheless, these challenges have a very real impact on a person’s perspective on their new culture, memories of ‘home’, and intercultural community building. Beginning with an overview of the multifaceted origins of global migrations – economic, political, and social – and building from theories of critical art education and pedagogy, this doctoral dissertation is a practice-based exploration centered around newcomers’ memories, preparation, and representations of favourite foods. Drawing on communal gastronomic experiences and the power of food to connect and bind us, this research uses a series of art workshops, oral history interviews, an exhibition, and the researcher’s creation of a collaborative recipe/colouring book to examine and embody the development of identity among a specific group of newly arrived young Latina mothers in Montreal, Quebec. This research bridges notions of belonging and integration into new environments, exploring how having access to art educational platforms can foster a deeper sense of self within a new cultural landscape. Further, the study considers the direct impact of these practices on the participants, highlighting art’s profound capacity to offer and foster community building, cultural integration, and social change.