Songwriting As A Tool For Understanding Identity And Dealing With Change

How can songwriting be used to understand one’s identity? How can songwriting help the writer deal with change? These two questions are at the center of my Honors thesis, in which I employ a method combining autoethnography and arts-based research. Integrating these two methods allowed for an examination of large-scale, comprehensive themes through the study of personal, individual creative work. By writing four original songs, keeping a journal for reflecting on these processes, and reviewing relevant literature, I explore how the act of songwriting can create meaning and provide an opportunity for the writer to develop self-knowledge and induce personal growth.