Learning as a Circular, Reciprocal Force...

This week I have been really working on using my key texts to help me learn about Mental Health within the Arts. The book I am reading at the moment is called ‘The Authentic Performer: Wearing a Mask and the Effect on Health.’ It is mainly aimed at artists and discusses the life of performers, but the author very cleverly relates things back to everyday life, reminding the reader that often all of us feel like we are wearing a mask in some way, no matter what our profession or practice. 

In the introduction of the book the author talks about how by writing it, she hoped not to answer a specific question, but to provoke more questions to herself and her readers. I found this very interesting as that is exactly the aim of this course and our inquiries. She included a quote which I wanted to share…

‘as soon as man understands that, for him, the ladder of comprehension has no end, he can find comfort in the realisation that consequently there is no limit to his possible progress; no matter how advanced his wisdom, he remains capable of yet another step forward.’ Hans Selye P.320

I think at times we can become too goal-orientated, too fixed on the idea of a specific target or achievement. I do think that goals and targets are crucial to our development - they help to motivate us to reach a dream, kind of like a road map. They drive our effort and perseverance and encourage new ways to enhance our development. But if we get too fixed on one thing we risk loosing the circular, reciprocal forces of Art itself. We need to focus on what will happen after we reach our goal, where will this lead us next, how can we keep developing, questioning & growing. 

This quote really resonated with me and has helped me to understand the teaching & learning methods of the BAPP. And this is also very closely linked to my inquiry - as I learn about Mental Health with the Arts I am finding more and more questions that lead me to more and more answers…but then further questions. It’s a circular, reciprocal force that should never stop. 

It would be boring to live in a world where everything was already known, wondering about things and asking questions is a really great thing! Having a goal or target is a great way to add structure to that wonder but it should be open-ended to allow the learning, in this case, my inquiry, to take me in whichever direction it wants to!

Three Identical Strangers - A Documentary

I recently watched a very moving documentary called ‘Three Identical Strangers’. 

It was about triplets that had been separated when they were 6 months old. They were each adopted by separate families who thought they were single babies in-need of adoption and without any siblings, which obviously wasn’t the case. It later came out that the children had purposefully been separated and raised by different families who had different beliefs, financial situations etc. all as part of a study into Nurture Vs. Nature. 

The babies all suffered from separation anxiety when they were adopted by different families. The children were watched, studied and tested throughout their childhood to see how they were developing, and how this development differed from their brothers. Later in life, as adults all of the children suffered from mental health disorders in some way, and very sadly even one of the brothers ended up committing suicide. 

This documentary is loosely linked to my inquiry as there is an obvious presence of mental health issues. However, I am mostly sharing this because I am looking at it from an ethical side.

The choice to separate family members as children to study their development, to me and many, seems very morally and ethically wrong. The families were unaware of why the children were been studied and the study obviously caused a lot of pain to the participants. 

Through investigation it was later revealed that this family of triplets was not the only case and that this had happened to many babies who were either twins or triplets. 

The case has been deeply hidden and even the participants, now grown adults, are not allowed access to there own data that was collected and recorded about them.

It leads me to question how and why this was allowed, where the data has gone and who would do such a thing? It is shocking to me that people knew this was going on and happily took part in leading or carrying out the study!!

It is a very interesting documentary and I advise people to watch it if they can. It has lead me to really focus on the ethical side to carrying out my inquiry as it really highlights the importance of data protection, informing participants fully, getting consent and following ethical guidelines that are there for a very clear reason.

If any of you have chance to watch the documentary or have heard of other similar situations I would love to hear your opinions!