School of Arts

Miranda Young-Jahangeer

Miranda Young-Jahangeer

AL: Teaching & Learning, Lecturer

Cluster/DisciplineDrama

Emailyoungm1@ukzn.ac.za

Contact Number031-260-1144

CampusHoward College Campus

Office AddressStudio 1 103

Degrees Held

  • PhD (Cultural studies/ Applied Theatre), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
  • MA (Cultural studies/ Applied Theatre), University of Natal, Durban
  • Honours (Drama and Performance), University of Natal, Durban
  • BA (English and Drama majors), University of Natal, Durban

Positions

  • 2011-2014 Academic Coordinator, University of KwaZulu-Natal Drama and Performance Studies, Howard College
  • 2003 Lecturer, University of Natal, / University of KwaZulu-Natal Drama and Performance Studies, Howard College
  • 2001-2004 Managing Editor Critical Arts: A Journal of South/North Cultural and Media Studies
  • 2000-2003 Lecturer at University of Natal, Durban (UND) Graduate Programme in Cultural and Media Studies (CCMS) (contracted position)
  • 2000 -2003 Tutor Drama and Performance Studies, University of Natal

Honours

  • 2002 Nomination for Distinguished Teachers AwardUniversity of Natal
  • 2000 Meritorious Service to the Programme Drama and Performance Studies
  • 1995 Outstanding Work Drama and Performance Studies, University of Natal
  • 1994 Community Service Award Drama and Performance Studies, University of Natal
  • 1992 Tutorial Award for Outstanding Practical work Drama and Performance Studies, University of Natal

Current Membership

  • Member of Higher Degrees Committee (School of Arts) under Prof. de Meyer
  • Convener for sub-committee of Higher Degrees for English, Media and Drama (HC) cluster
  • Editorial Consultant Critical Arts: Journal of South-North cultural and Media studies
  • Board Member of PIACO (Public and Inmates against Crime Organisation) (NGO)
  • Board (Treasurer) of Twist Theatre Development Programme (NPO)
  • Board of Dala: Art and architecture for Social change (NPO)
  • Member Golden Key society
Selected

Publications

Large Editing Projects

  • Young-Jahangeer, M. & Loots, L. (Eds). 2006. Critical Arts: A Journal of South/North Cultural and Media Studies Themed issue: Encountering Contemporary Dance and Music Practices in Africa Vol 20 (2).Young-Jahangeer, M. and Loots, L. (Eds). 2005. Contemporary African Dance? Questioning Issues of a Performance Aesthetic for a Developing and Independent Continent. Durban, South Africa: Centre for Creative Arts, University of Natal.
  • Tomaselli, K. (Ed) 2004. Critical Arts: A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies Themed issue: Literature and Representation. 18(2).
  • Tomaselli, K. (Ed) 2003. Critical Arts: A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies Themed issue: Diasporic Africans and questions of Identity. 17 (1&2).
  • Tomaselli, K. (Ed) 2002. Critical Arts: A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies Themed issue: Continental Africans and questions of identity.16 (2).

Conference/ Workshop Presentations

  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2014. Subverting the panopticon. Presented at the Interface colloquium: Movement, Dialogue, Dissidence, International colloquium hosted by dala: art/ architecture for social change. Durban, South Africa as part of the International Union of Architects conference fringe. 4 – 6 August 2014.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2013. The thin pink line: Performing Art in the city of Cape Town. presented at the annual IFTR conference Barcelona, Spain 22 – 26 July 2013.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2012. Less than a dog: Negotiating sexuality though PPT in Westville Female Prison. Presented at the annual Drama for Life (DFL) conference, University of Pretoria, South Africa 16 – 17 November 2012.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2012. Panoptic spaces, democratic places? Negotiating sexuality through Popular Participatory Theatre (PPT) in Westville Female Correctional Centre, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa presented at the annual IFTR conference Santiago, Chile 22 – 28 July 2012.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2007. Bringing in to play: Investigating the appropriation of Prison Theatre in Westville Female Prison, Kwazulu-Natal (2000 – 2005). Presented at conference Consciousness, Theatre, Literature and the Arts Aberystwyth, Wales United Kingdom 5 – 7 May 2007.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. & Craighead, C. 2006. A Luta Continua: A responsive intervention in Warwick Triangle, Durban. Presented at Dramatic Learning Spaces Conference, UKZN, Pietermartizburg 22 – 25 September 2006.
  • Workshop for the re-integration of ex-offenders into their communities. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 17 September 2005.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2004. Bringing in to play: Investigating the appropriation of Prison Theatre in Westville Female Prison, Kwazulu-Natal (2000 – 2004). Presented at Dramatic Learning Spaces Conference, UKZN, Pietermartizburg 23 – 25 April 2004.
  • Hurst, C. and Young-Jahangeer, M. February 2004. Prison Theatre at Westville Prison Complex, Durban. Presented to Peoples Palace Projects, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2002. Working from the inside/out: Drama as Activism in Westville Female Prison. Paper presented at: International Conference on Convergence: Technology, Culture and Social Impacts International Research Seminar, University of Natal, 6-11 May, 2002
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2002. Working from the inside/out: Drama as Activism in Westville Female Prison 2002. Paper presented at the Graduate Conference, University of Natal, 26 October 2002.
  • Hust, C. Young-Jahangeer, M. & Zulu, D. Prison theatre in post-apartheid South Africa: a case study of Westville Prison. The Edge Festival, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 7 November 2002.
  • Hurst, C. & Young-Jahangeer, M. 8 November 2002. Images of masculinity and power. The Edge Festival, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 8 November 2002.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M and Hurst, C. Building Learning and Research Partnerships: The use of theatre at Westville Prison. Poster presentation at Workshop on African Scholarship November 2003 UKZN.

Reports

  • Young- Jahangeer, M. 2003. Prison Theatre, Interventions with offenders: An evaluation report for CHESP. An evaluation on the post-graduate service learning course run by the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of Natal in partnership with Westville Prison. Unpublished Report.
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2002. Theatre for a developing Nation 2002: Exploring sisterhood. An evaluation report for CHESP on the service learning module run by the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of Natal in partnership with Westville Prison. Unpublished Report.
  • Hurst, C. Young, M & Nkala, B. 2002. Theatre for a developing nation. An evaluation report on the first level service-learning course run by the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of Natal in partnership with Westville Prison. Unpublished report for Correctional Services
  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2002. Postgraduate course in Prison Theatre: Interventions with offenders. An evaluation on the post-graduate service learning course run by the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of Natal in partnership with Westville Prison. Unpublished report for University of Natal and CHESP.

Thesis

  • Young-Jahangeer, M. 2010. Working from the inside out: Participatory popular theatre in the negotiation of discursive power and patriarchy in Female Prisons: The example of Westville Female Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2000 – 2004. Unpublished PhD. University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Research Support

  • Hurst, C & Young-Jahangeer, M. 2002. Prison Theatre in KwaZulu-Natal National Research Foundation (NRF) funded.
  • Hurst, C & Young-Jahangeer, M. 2001. Prison Theatre in KwaZulu-Natal. National Research Foundation (NRF) funded.
  • This is a long term research project which is still ongoing although the NRF support has ended. As I was not yet in the permanent employ of the University, I could not be the grant holder but I was absolutely the co-author of the proposal and a key partner in the project (see Community Service Portfolio and appendices).
  • The on-going commitment to and involvement in this community manifested in an International Symposium on Theatre in Correctional Centres (March 2008) held at Westville Medium B Prison. It was funded by the Prins Klaus Fund and was organized by Dr. Christopher John and myself. This project was the basis for my PhD research. (see Community Service Portfolio and appendices)
  • The overall goal was/is to introduce participatory theatre skills to both inmates from Westville Prison (specifically Medium B, Female and Youth centre), and to students from Drama and Performance Studies, Howard College Campus. This research project and agreement with the prison also feeds into teaching. The Female Correctional Facility is the only current site where the work continues.

Popular Participatory theatre has proven to be a tool which has amongst other things

  • Provided inmates with ways to process past experiences
  • Opened up channels of communication between inmates and inmates and inmates and Correctional Staff
  • Raise awareness over social issues such as HIV/Aids, racism, class conflict, addiction and gender violence
  • Re-negotiate their own identities
  • Provide a therapeutic, creative and safe space
  • Improved the behaviour of inmates towards each other through the alleviation of boredom and increased self-esteem.
  • Administratively my role is managing the on-going theatre interventions in Westville Female Prison (since 2000) and occasionally Youth Centre. This also involves maintaining relationships with both inmates and staff.
  • Methodologically (in terns of research) my role is participant observer.
  • Practically my role is as facilitator of popular participatory plays with inmates.
Selected

Teaching

Curriculum and programme development and evaluation

  • In 2006 we as a staff undertook to re-look at the curriculum. Many of the courses did not make conceptual sense or would have been more suitable in another year of study. All changes to the curriculum were discussed and negotiated collectively. The changes were implemented over a 2 year cycle. The modifications were primarily in the under-graduate courses. A primary contribution of mine was the shifting of the First level Theatre for a Developing Nation, which I teach into the second level. It ran successfully as an elective for the first time in 2008. The elective then became in 2009, the core module. In 2014, this was further extended to focus specifically on Applied Theatre. This is discussed in more detail in the Teaching Portfolio.
  • We conduct annual evaluations on all courses. Comments by students are taken into consideration and implemented the following year.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

  • I teach and tutor across all years level 1 – PhD.

Courses devised, coordinated and taught

  • DRAM201 Introduction to Applied theatre (core course)
  • DRAM302: Popular participatory theatre (elective)
  • DRAM714/814 Theatre for debate
  • DRAM713/813 (semester) Politics of performance
Postgraduate

Research Supervision

Community Service

  • Please see C. Research Support for a description of the Prison Theatre project which aside from research involves a fundamental element of service to the broader community.

University Service

  • As of 2014 serve on the Higher Degrees Committee headed by Prof. De Meyer. Although Prof. McMurtry served for Drama last year, I replaced him when he was not available, so am familiar with the committee and its role.
  • As of 2014, I was asked by Dr. Sandwith and Prof. Wade if I would convene the sub-committee for Higher Degrees (proposal) for our cluster. I accepted.
  • I was invited by Dr. Kathryn Olsen in 2012, to serve on the proposal committee for Music, I accepted and feel I assisted greatly in my capacity as ‘outside’ reviewer.
  • In 2011 I was asked to take up the position of Academic Coordinator for Drama and Performance Studies, (HC). I assumed all the necessary administrative and leadership responsibilities. Headed weekly staff meetings, saw to the needs of the staff in the department as well as managed student issues. I worked under Dr. Sandwith and Prof. Zulu and maintained good relations with both. Tamar Meskin took over the position in 2014.