Installation shot of practice research live art film GOO:GA (2021) in the 2022 Mother Art Prize show at the Zabludowicz Collection.

Research Profile

Leading a BYOBaby live art workshop in partnership with Mothers Who Make at Fitzrovia Chapel

Investigating the aesthetic impact of the marginalisation of parents in the performing arts in practice research performance, Shhh

Hannah Ballou

Dr. Hannah Ballou stands as a luminary in the realm of practice research within the arts, innovatively merging comedy, live art, & creative expression with academic inquiry to provide a holistic critical perspective and understanding of contemporary feminist issues. Her significant contributions, exemplified through key publications and practice research outcomes underscore the profound impact her work has on both the academic community and society at large.

Dr. Ballou's scholarly journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to practice research—a methodology that closely intertwines artistic practice and academic investigation. This cyclical process, starting with creative engagement and culminating in critical analysis, forms the backbone of her innovative epistemological and praxis approach to the co-creation of participative knowledge generation and learning opportunities. Through this iterative cycle, each performance becomes a catalyst for generating new insights, thereby informing subsequent artistic endeavours, rewrites of material, and extension of ideas to new audiences. The approach perpetuates a continuous loop of mutually enriching creative and scholarly dialogue with various publics on contemporary society and the profound everyday challenges of lived experience.

 “GOO:GA: ‘If I have to maybe squeeze a corpse out of my pussy I’m going to get a fucking good show out of it.’ (Forthcoming: International Journal of Performance Arts & Digital Media, Taylor & Francis): This ground-breaking practice research reflection articulates the praxis of Dr. Ballou’s live art film, GOO:GA (2021), winner of the 2022 Mother Art Prize. Significant new insight into the comic subjectivity of pregnancy is offered along with an account of the embodied practitioner knowledge gleaned from autobiographical performance undertaken during traumatic, precarious pregnancy.

 
"Pretty Funny: Manifesting a Normatively Sexy Female Comic Body" (Comedy Studies, Taylor & Francis): This seminal innovative enacted think-piece challenges normative perceptions of the female comic body. Dr. Ballou's exploration of humour, gender, and societal expectations showcases her ability to traverse the boundaries of creative expression and scholarly discourse, contributing significantly to the academic understanding of gender in comedy and the physical and metaphysical influences on what constitutes ‘funny’.

"Measures We are Taking to Offset the Patriarchal Footprint of Our Wedding" (McSweeney's): Dr. Ballou's contribution to McSweeney's is a humorous yet socially-significant piece that addresses the patriarchal dimensions of weddings. This work exemplifies her capacity to draw on lived experience combined with mastery of creative expression to engage wider audiences in critical reflections on societal norms, assumptions and unconscious biases, showcasing the intersection of wit and social commentary in her repertoire.

Fast Fierce Women (2022), edited by Gina Barreca, is another example of Dr. Ballou’s ability to draw upon lived experience to articulate feminist critique through comedy.  Her poetry about miscarriage published in this anthology, articulates an unruly perspective, a testament to the resilience of fast, fierce women, enriching the discourse on gender dynamics in contemporary society.

Impact

Dr. Ballou's impact transcends academic boundaries, resonating deeply with societal dynamics and contemporary issues. Her work serves as a catalyst for change, fostering inclusivity, creative expression, and collective dialogue. There is a strong underlying theme of social justice in her work that focuses on unpacking the emotion of lived experience in partnership with audiences.


1) Public Awareness and Understanding: Through her creative works, Dr. Ballou raises public awareness and understanding of contemporary societal issues. By addressing gender norms and family dynamics, she sparks conversations that challenge societal expectations with humour, making these discussions accessible and engaging for a diverse audience.

2) Inclusion of Parents in Performance Spaces: Actively promoting the inclusion of parents in performance spaces, Dr. Ballou recognises the importance of family engagement. Her creations resonate with diverse family experiences, contributing to a more inclusive cultural landscape and enriching the cultural understanding of experiences of children exposed to a broader spectrum of family dynamics than societal norms might suggest. This impact includes greater public awareness of the socio-politically-culturally engineered issues of caregiving, responsibility and control.

3) Creative Expression and Collective Voice: Dr. Ballou's inclusive performance spaces provide a platform for creative expression and the amplification of collective voices. By weaving narratives that encompass a range of perspectives, she empowers individuals and communities, fostering a sense of belonging and validating diverse experiences through providing space for voice and social narratives to emerge.

4) Filmmaking for Reach and Access: Leveraging the power of visual storytelling, Dr. Ballou employs filmmaking as a strategic tool to enhance the reach and accessibility of her performances. This approach democratises access to her ideas, making them available to a global audience and facilitating engagement with diverse communities.

In summary, Dr. Ballou's pioneering work in practice research not only elevates the academic landscape and participative approaches to knowledge generation, but also serves as a visible stand for societal change. Through her inclusive approach, she creates spaces for dialogue, challenges societal norms, and contributes to the ongoing intersubjective transformation of our cultural understanding of society.

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Pretty Funny: Manifesting a Normatively Sexy Female Comic Body

For Comedy Studies, Taylor & Francis

Measures We are Taking to Offset the Patriarchal Footprint of Our Wedding

For McSweeney's

​Fast Fierce Women, edited by Gina Barreca, Woodhall Press, (2022)

Accompanying REF contextualisation for goo:ga  (2016)

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