Write Here: a phenomenological exploration of young writers’ relationships with space

Abstract

This study uses psychology, philosophy, sociology, and pedagogy to explore the ways in which spaces, both “real” and imagined, influence young writers’ creative processes. Arts-based methods were applied in conscious opposition to traditional “banking” models of education, priortising the different truths and ways of knowing accepted in phenomenology. Through a thematic and arts-based analysis of a focus group, surveys, and creative writing pieces from 826 Boston’s Youth Literary Advisory Board, themes of comfort, individuality and dis/embodiment, community, and contrasts were generated. This dissertation concludes with recommendations for researchers and arts managers interested in the creative processes of teen writers.