Becoming Sustainable: An Autoethnography in Story and Song

Abstract

Self-sustainability is presented as a foundational practice for creating a more sustainable world. Through an autoethnographic study, the author uses her time as a doctoral student to examine the concept of sustainability and how sustainability can be interpreted through the lens of the individual. Four distinct phases are explored: awareness, permission, change, and intention. These stages were inspired by, and correspond with, her four years at Prescott College. In studying with a fellow student, the researcher learned a method of songwriting called Story-to-Song (STS), wherein a song is lifted from a spoken story. She created an identity that fit her requirements for self-sustainability and wove this identity into her personal, professional, and academic life. The researcher's path to self-sustainability is traced through storied expression and songwriting. Literature and research that examines the importance of creating and sharing identity and through different forms of creative expression is explored. Data includes written pieces, songs composed in the STS tradition, and journals. Together, this autoethnography and the research cited suggest that one of the most important steps in the larger field of sustainability should begin with the examination of self-sustainability.

Keywords: autoethnography, self, sustainability, story, song, identity