Aging in American Culture Impact Outcomes

Aging in American Culture

Students in the Aging in American Culture Lab examined the environment, the body, and American culture with the help of faculty from the School of Music, Dance, and Theatre and Edson College's Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging to understand how space and perceptions of aging are intimately connected. Using creative interventions and interviews, students researched their local community's ideologies regarding aging to inform conclusions about how American culture can change to promote inclusivity and healthier attitudes toward aging. See their findings in the impact outcomes below.

Reflection Research Workshop

To gauge ASU students' perceptions of age, accessibility, space, and community, members of the Space and Accessibility group held an interactive event in which they encouraged students to reflect on hypothetical situations, conducted interviews, and asked questions.

Research Presentations

Students conducted surveys, interviews, discussions, and workshops that addressed societal perceptions of age and aging. These activated research outcomes and interventions culminated in presentations that summarized the exigencies, methods, results, and conclusions of their work.

Intergenerational Conversation

Taking inspiration from the classic Jubilee Middle Grounds conversations, the Intergenerational Conversations team filmed a discussion on perceptions of age between elders and young students to capture implicit biases and misperceptions but also the potentiality of tolerance and respect. View their research presentation here.

Movement and Perceptions of Aging

A team of students focused on aging and movement held drawing workshops and interviews with elders in different contexts to capture a spectrum of attitudes toward aging and movement. View their research presentation here.

“What stood out to me in this lab (Aging in American Culture) is the how such a diverse group of students – representing a breadth of majors – were able to come together to discuss and identify ways to influence such a complex topic. It was just enthralling to watch how these students, who normally would not interact, came together and were able to share the perspectives that their backgrounds and majors brought to the issues discussed. The mixture of their contributions made class meetings fascinating..."

- Aaron Guest, Aging in American Culture Humanities Lab Co-Faculty

Collaborative Partners

- Patti Moore: Designer and Gerontologist, MooreDesign Associates LLC
- Liz Lerman: Institute Professor, ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Raphael Xavier (aka Viazeen): Professional Dancer
- Dr. Rose Weitz: Professor of Women and Gender Studies, ASU School of Social Transformation
- Jorge Magana (aka Bboy House): Assistant Professor, ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- North Tempe Multi-Generational Center
- Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging
- SAILS

Envisioning Ageless Futures

The Envisioning Ageless Futures student team conducted a survey on ageism at ASU, held qualitative interviews with older undergraduate students, and analyzed principles to guide ASU's development toward a more age-inclusive future. View their research presentation here.

Space and Accessibility

Using data from a survey, the Space and Accessibility team conjured up a thought experiment in which a group of individuals was removed from society and relocated to a space station colony as a lens to reconsider accessibility, age-related bias, and the concept of community. View their research presentation video here.

Note: The views presented or expressed on this page are those of the speaker or author only and do not necessarily represent the views of Arizona State University.