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Trowell, Jane (2025) Loosely Sutured: a reflective practice memoir of a ‘white' art educator’s journey into the impossibilities and possibilities of 'white' anti-racist research in art and design education. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

This research is into the formation and disruption of racism, coloniality and whiteness in 'white' art educators, including those who identify as anti-racist such as the author. The researcher is a 'white' middle-class female art educator operating within an activist paradigm of social justice practice in art and design education. The research was conducted in the UK during an era of heightened inequity, fuelled by populism, government-led racism and xenophobia, and draconian cuts across arts education in England from early years to higher education.

The thesis presents an eleven-year research journey that is itself disrupted, running aground four times. Irreconcilable whiteness ambushes the claims to anti-racist design and form for the thesis. Enquiry into these ambushes contributes to understandings of what it can take for 'white' art educators to 'inhabit critique' and maintain anti-racist practice 'with its lengthy duration' (Ahmed, 2004). Thus, the thesis takes the form of a reflective practice memoir that critically contextualises texts, imagery and events from the timeline of the journey, forming evidence towards understanding the ambushes.



The research is rooted in the provocation 'How does it feel to be a white problem?' (Yancy, 2015). Anti-racist 'white' people should 'remain un-sutured' and experience 'crisis' about the fact of their racism, while continuing to act against racism (2015, Yancy's hyphenation).



Parts 1 and 2 feature two 'fieldwork' journeys (with 'white' peers, with Black and global majority peers). Parts 3 and 4 feature two journeys seeking form (image-making, letter-writing). Each came to crisis and un-sutured. I conclude that ‘remaining un-sutured' is vital, yet could for many paralyse anti-racist action. I propose instead a 'loose suturing’ that leaves the 'white' person unable to conceal their racism to themselves, but able to strive towards anti-racist action. Being loosely sutured enabled the submission of this thesis.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Thomson, Patricia Amsler, Sarah
Keywords:	art, art education, racism, anti-racist art education, whiteness, white supremacy, coloniality, reflective practice memoir, memoir, England, UK
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of education
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Social Sciences, Law and Education > School of Education
Item ID:	80981
Depositing User:	Trowell, Jane
Date Deposited:	19 Aug 2025 09:58
Last Modified:	19 Aug 2025 09:58
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/80981

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