Artists Becoming Teachers: Expressions of Identity Transformation in a Virtual Forum

This paper is an investigation of theoretical issues pertaining to art and design graduates as they embark upon their training as teachers. The expressive, ‘confessional’ nature of selected forum posts in their virtual learning environment are analysed in relation to the students’ identity transformation into teachers. This transition is profound in the case of artist teachers, for whom the contrast between their practice as a critical artist and that of a regulated professional can be severe. The usage of these socially-oriented virtual forums, and the students’ identity transition is analysed in terms of identity theorists such as Butler, hooks, and Wenger. There are problems of expression that are brought about by the juxtaposition of visually and spatially adept artist-learners constrained within a largely textual environment, yet this impediment appears to be ameliorated by their social-expressive exploitation of the forums.