My current research focuses on the role of artists and artistic expressions after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. I am interested in how artists are responding to the coup and how the coup has affected their artistic practice. Currently I am exploring the ways in which artists are engaging in a form of everyday resistance through their work.
Trude Stapnes
Doctoral Researcher
Email: trusta@prio.org
Mobile phone: +47 48 15 28 90
Interests and experience
I am a Doctoral Researcher at PRIO and the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. My PhD is part of the project Inspirational creative practice: The work of artists after war and violent conflict (INSPIRE) at PRIO. Please visit the INSPIRE website to learn more about the project.
I hold a master’s degree in cultural and community psychology from the University of Oslo. In my MA thesis I explored why people protest in contexts known for violent suppression and imprisonment of protesters, specifically focusing on student activists in Myanmar protesting against the enactment of a new education law in 2015. My MA thesis was part of the PRIO project Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts (TRANSFORM).
I have previously worked as a Research Assistant for the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict and on various research projects at PRIO including: Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts, Social Media in Armed Conflict: The Case of Myanmar and Active Citizenship in Culturally and Religiously Diverse Societies.
Projects
Jan 2020 – Dec 2025
Inspirational Creative Practice: The Work of Artists after War and Violent Conflict (INSPIRE)
Inspirational Creative Practice: The Work of Artists after War and Violent Conflict (INSPIRE)
Jan 2020 –
Inspirational Creative Practice: Art and Activism in Myanmar
Inspirational Creative Practice: Art and Activism in Myanmar
PRIO Fieldwork Network (FIWON)
Jan 2019 – Dec 2019
Art, Peace and Conflict: Conversations with Artists
Art, Peace and Conflict: Conversations with Artists
Jan 2018 – Jun 2018
"The protest was our last and only weapon": A qualitative study of how individuals in Myanmar understand their motives for participating in protest
"The protest was our last and only weapon": A qualitative study of how individuals in Myanmar understand their motives for participating in protest
May 2017 – Jul 2022
Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts (TRANSFORM)
Societal Transformation in Conflict Contexts (TRANSFORM)
Jun 2014 – Dec 2018
Active Citizenship in Culturally and Religiously Diverse Societies (ACT)
Active Citizenship in Culturally and Religiously Diverse Societies (ACT)
Latest publications
Tamar Groves & Trude Stapnes (2023)
Prefiguring a democratic state: student activism and the National Education Law in Myanmar
Prefiguring a democratic state: student activism and the National Education Law in Myanmar
Journal article in Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education
Trude Stapnes (2023)
Jenny Hedström & Elisabeth Olivius, eds: Waves of Upheaval in Myanmar
Jenny Hedström & Elisabeth Olivius, eds: Waves of Upheaval in Myanmar
Book review in JPR Book Notes
Trude Stapnes, Erik Carlquist & Cindy Horst (2022)
Responsibility to Protest: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Motives for Protest Participation in Myanmar
Responsibility to Protest: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Motives for Protest Participation in Myanmar
Journal article in Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology
Trude Stapnes (2018)
"The protest was our last and only weapon": A qualititative study of how individuals in Myanmar understand their motives for participating in protest
"The protest was our last and only weapon": A qualititative study of how individuals in Myanmar understand their motives for participating in protest
Master thesis
Latest news
Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021
INSPIRE Seminar Series Autumn 2021
INSPIRE Seminar Series Autumn 2021
Please be invited and save the dates for the INSPIRE seminar series autumn 2021! The seminars will take place monthly, on Wednesdays from 12:00-13:00 CET, online, with invited researchers and artists.
Friday, 25 Jun 2021
New Online Exhibition from the TRANSFORM Project
New Online Exhibition from the TRANSFORM Project
In societies at war or facing severe repression, what motivates individuals to take action for social justice when doing so involves great risk and uncertainty? How do such small but often heroic everyday acts of common people inspire larger transformations? And what is the impact of storytelling about everyday acts that challenge inequalities and injustices in places like Myanmar, Somaliland and Syria?The TRANSFORM research team has grappled with these questions for four years, and you will ...
Monday, 14 Jun 2021
Artistic Encounters in War and Violent Conflict: New Platform for the INSPIRE Project Launched
Artistic Encounters in War and Violent Conflict: New Platform for the INSPIRE Project Launched
On June 3rd 2021, the INSPIRE research platform was launched with a live performance by Faytinga and a presentation of artwork by Diala Brisly.
Friday, 4 Dec 2020
PRIO's Youth & Peacebuilding Research
PRIO's Youth & Peacebuilding Research
Read up before the PRIO Annual Peace Address 2020
Monday, 5 Oct 2020
Creative Methods Workshop for the INSPIRE Project
Creative Methods Workshop for the INSPIRE Project
On October 5-6th a workshop on creative methods was held for the INSPIRE project.
Tuesday, 15 Sep 2020
Successful First Advisory Board Meeting for the INSPIRE Project
Successful First Advisory Board Meeting for the INSPIRE Project
On September 15th the INSPIRE advisory board and INSPIRE researchers had their first meeting.
Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020
Trude Stapnes Hired as a Doctoral Researcher on the INSPIRE Project
Trude Stapnes Hired as a Doctoral Researcher on the INSPIRE Project
Thursday, 23 Jan 2020
Successful Kick-off Workshop for the INSPIRE Project
Successful Kick-off Workshop for the INSPIRE Project
From January 22-23, 2020 a kick-off workshop was held for the INSPIRE project.
Wednesday, 3 Apr 2019
Call for Abstracts: ‘Political agency and moral action in times of war’
Call for Abstracts: ‘Political agency and moral action in times of war’
This academic workshop focuses on political agency and moral action before, during and after violent conflict and war.
Monday, 11 Feb 2019
PRIO and Goethe-Institut Workshop with Academics and Cultural Practitioners
PRIO and Goethe-Institut Workshop with Academics and Cultural Practitioners
On 6 February, PRIO and the Goethe-Institut hosted a four-hour participatory workshop with a small group of invited cultural practitioners and academics.
Latest events
Monday, 22 Apr 2024 10:45–13:00 UTC+02
Myanmar Roundtable: Artistic Practices after the Coup
Myanmar Roundtable: Artistic Practices after the Coup
22–23 Apr 2024
INSPIRE Conference
INSPIRE Conference
Wednesday, 7 Dec 2022 18:30–20:45 UTC+01
Film Screening: Women at the Frontline - 'As I Want'
Film Screening: Women at the Frontline - 'As I Want'
Wednesday, 1 Dec 2021 12:00–13:00 UTC+01
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Protest Aesthetics in Motion
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Protest Aesthetics in Motion
Wednesday, 10 Nov 2021 12:00–13:00 UTC+01
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Guy Elhanan
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Guy Elhanan
Wednesday, 13 Oct 2021 12:00–13:00 UTC+02
INSPIRE seminar series: On Fearless Love: Tradition, Service, and Social Change
INSPIRE seminar series: On Fearless Love: Tradition, Service, and Social Change
Thursday, 30 Sep 2021 14:00–16:00 UTC+02
Fighting for Social Justice
Fighting for Social Justice
Wednesday, 15 Sep 2021 12:00–13:00 UTC+02
INSPIRE seminar series: Mother, Singer, Survivor of Liberia’s Civil War and Refugee as Community Builder
INSPIRE seminar series: Mother, Singer, Survivor of Liberia’s Civil War and Refugee as Community Builder
9–11 Oct 2019
Political Agency and Moral Action in Times of War
Political Agency and Moral Action in Times of War
