Increasing equity, affirming the power of narrative and expanding dialogue: the evolution of entertainment education over two decades

Abstract

This article provides a critical summary and review of the presentations and discussions that took place during the Fifth International Conference on Entertainment Education (EE) in New Delhi, India, in November 2011, in an attempt to understand what it tells us about the state of the field and where it is going. This gathering of EE scholars, practitioners, activists, donors, government policymakers, media producers, artists, writers and performers from 31 countries represented a broad spectrum of contemporary work and perspectives on EE, reflecting its topical, geographic, conceptual, technological and methodological diversity. Key themes that shape EE discourse today are identified, including a focus on increasing equity, affirming the power of narrative and storytelling for social change, and expanding opportunities for transformative dialogue. The review also identified several key challenges facing the field of EE going forward, including how to work effectively with donor agencies and the private sector, how to balance the imperatives of research and practice, and how to maintain a creative dynamic between art/entertainment and science/education. The researchers argue that the fundamental principles embodied in EE practice may facilitate how the field responds to these challenges, as EE looks to a future of expanding scale, increasing demand, decentralisation of access and diversification of technology.