Date of Graduation

2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

International and Multicultural Education

Program

International & Multicultural Education EdD

First Advisor

Stephen Cary

Second Advisor

Betty Taylor

Third Advisor

Beverly V. Hock

Abstract

There is little research on the image of the artist in general and no research was found incorporating the multicultural image of the artist in children's or YA books. Knowing that artists can be as culturally diverse as their artistic medium of choice raised the initial questions about the multicultural image of the artist. Even though there have been numerous novels published over the last 40 years with an artist character as part of the story, there was a lack of empirical research on how the image of the artist may be stereotyped and if these novels reflect today's contemporary society.

The purpose of this study, therefore, was to survey ten YA novels with an artist character, either real or imagined, incorporated into the story. More specifically, this study evaluated the image of the multicultural artist using the methodology of qualitative content analysis and a theoretical framework presented by Mingshui Cai for the evaluation of multicultural literature (2002). The four research questions addressed authenticity, stereotyping, cultural integrity, and authorship and its relationship to cultural criticism within literary analysis.

The findings revealed the depiction of the multicultural image of the artists in the ten YA novels: (1) were all culturally and historically authentic; (2) were not negatively stereotyped based on ethnic or cultural background; (3) maintained a cultural integrity of the people and cultures represented; and (4) confirmed that the author's social-cultural perspective did not negatively influence the main literary perspectives in the novel.

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