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Introduction

COVID-19 has greatly amplified the issues of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the current situation. In this writing, I am examining the topic of social isolation and mental health, and how art should strive to do during COVID-19.

Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society (Newman, Medical News). It is usually linked with mental health, which is about how people think, feel and behave. Social isolation is also very effective during COVID-19, as it is similar to the way that stress hurts our brain by letting it suffer (Sample and India, The Guardian). Several issues have been amplified during COVID-19, and the disconnection is one of them. The lack of ability to go out and the decrease in social interactions has greatly affected people's social connection with others, as a result of the increase in loneliness rates. The phenomenon is that people start to value their social interactions and their relationships by taking advantage of the internet, allowing them to reach out to friends and loved ones more than ever before (Walker, The Spinoff). However, for the elderly or the poor who can not use the Internet are most at risk. Some people are also struggling with economic issues. When a person in extreme poverty is facing the pressure of life, his subjective loneliness is at strongest (Walker, The Spinoff). For example, in the photo of a poor region in southern Italy, some people are living on food donations as they have no money to support themselves. At such times, these people are more exposed to mental health problems. Therefore, the pandemic not only produces these suffering and desperation but significantly it reveals the weakness in our mentalities and social structure, resulting in dreadful effects on ourselves, for example, suicide.

Anomie and anomic suicide

‘Anomie’ refers to when social connections and social bonds are diminished. It happens when society is undergoing major changes or an individual is experiencing a highly stressful situation. This term was initially defined by Durkheim, “results from a lack of absence or loosening of social norms”(Paiva, cited in Serpa and Ferreira, 689). Serpa and Ferreira in their article interpret this idea by looking at the Durkheimian perspective. The epidemic is not only the devastation and suffering caused by the spread of infection; it is also the brutal chaos that follows the weakening of the State, the disintegration of authorities, social structures and mentalities (Serpa and Ferreira, 689).

Serpa and Ferreira identify two types of suicidal behaviour that occur under psychological and social stress, which are egoistic suicide and anomic suicide. "Anomic suicide is connected with the situations in which society ceases to exercise a regulating function over passions (Serpa and Ferreira, P 690). " When a society is in chaos, people's emotions and values can not be reflected and received, so they start to find more ways to express their inconsolable desires. This group of people can not accept the result of social disorder that is incompatible with their expectations, resulting in strong emotions of dissatisfaction within the social situation.

I think it's a real testament to the many problems that we are facing at the moment. The physical damage to our body is only the surface of the effects, there are far more severe issues, such as mental health problems, the rise in unemployment, poverty and the disorder of society. At ordinary times, we habitually ignore or consciously suppress our attention on these problems, resulting in a large outbreak. It seems that all of these problems which we normally regard as being irrelevant to each other, have suddenly become entangled and inseparable, like a piece of string.

Mana taonga —— artwork of suicide

Suicide and its effects have been troubling people for centuries. We see them not only in the daily news, but also in the arts. Art about death is commonly used throughout history. For example, the artwork in 2010 that was published in Russia metro station has become a controversial topic. One image shows the "Crime and Punishment" protagonist murdering two women with an ax, and another shows a man holding a gun to his head (Landau, CNN). Some psychologists think that artwork that is negative, dark and might contain suicidal behaviours could influence people's mental health (Landau, CNN). Art can influence suicidal thoughts depending on the content and the way it is displayed. Therefore, this example shows that if art is used and displayed inappropriately in public, it will be harmful to people who have mental health problems. From the Maori perspective, it is the mana of an artwork that contributes to the effects.

Fig. 1. photographer unknown, The Dostoevskaya metro station in Moscow has mosaics depicting scenes from Fyodor Dostoevsky's fiction, 2010, photograph, Metro Station ‘Dostoevskaya’ in Russia, CNN, edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/13/suicide.locations.barriers/index.html

'Mana taonga' is a term to explain the value in the Maori worldview, it promotes an understanding of multiple ideas and it challenges the dominance of western thoughts and understandings. Mana taonga is partly based on whakapapa, it recognises the authority that derives from the whakapapa (genealogical reference system) of the creator of the cultural item (Smith, 8). Whakapapa exists in a wide range from Maori cosmology to culture and land. It helps Maori search for their history and ancestral resources, and its importance enables the Maori artworks to reside within museums (Smith, 8).

However, Maori artwork was not accepted by museums at first in the early stage, as museums in the past had their own tradition of knowledge for collecting artwork. It has been the gatekeepers of culture and in control of Maori material culture for a long time (Schorch and Arapata, 194). Museums did not welcome Maori artwork as they sought the arts that could give rise to them. However, what museums did not realize was the importance of the material and spiritual heritage of past and ancestors to Maori. Maori respected their own history in a modern way, and their mana is contained within a natural form that embraces the present and contemporary (Schorch and Arapata, 195).

The Te Maori Exhibition symbolizes the turning point of Maori artwork being accepted by the museums. It was a remarkable transformation that established the connection between Maori (culture) and museums. As mentioned in the article, it is a result of a ground-breaking collaboration and co-operation between museums, government agencies, sponsors and Maori people (Schorch and Arapata, 196). This exhibition not only changed people's perception of Maori, but also helped promote Maori tradition and art. At the same time, Maori have gained their first opportunity to manage and present their taonga held in museums both nationally and internationally (Schorch and Arapata, 196). I think it's a great example to demonstrate how the mana of an artwork influences the place. The museum was mono-cultural and unwelcoming in the past, and gradually it became attaching great importance to the Maori artwork due to its strong historical value and contemporary culture. In the past, their excessive control over Maori arts played an opposite role. "To recapture one's culture is important to have the members of the culture speak for themselves and present it in their own ways (Sid Mead, cited in Schorch and Arapata,196)." The mana changes the museum's exhibition system, and allows deficiency in treating arts to be exposed. More precisely, the influence of mana is mutual. When an artwork's mana has passed to the museum, artworks have also gained mana from the museum to speak for themselves. This means that this gained mana not only enables Maori artwork to reside in museums but changes people's perceptions of it.

Therefore, I think it is crucial to contemplate where art is displayed and how it is used, as the mana of art will not only cause cultural and ideological influence on one place but people as well. So the reason for the public art in Russia metro station being controversial is mainly because of the way it is displayed. The exposure of the mana can sometimes be tricky as for people who have mild or severe mental problems, it can be fatal.

Another example of the use of public artwork is the project displayed in Philadelphia called Finding the Light Within, which is used to urge people to face suicide issues directly and help those who are suffering. The community provides a platform where everyone reaches out to each other, acknowledges the serious negative consequences of suicide, and encourages each other to pull themselves out of the pain with constant hope. I think it's a great example to show how mana contributes to positive effects when the artwork is displayed in public appropriately. The mana of the mural encourages people to have the chance to express their emotions and share with others with no fear and shame. Meanwhile, the place also gives mana back to the artwork, enabling it to be admissive and publicized.

Fig. 1. James Burns (lead muralist), Completed Finding the Light Within mural, 2014, mural, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NCBI, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3865777/

Interview with Margaret Pellerrtti, survivor

Suicide survivor Margaret Pellerrtti who has seen his son committed suicide, was drawn by the project. He believes that the effects of suicide are mutual, especially the impact on others can not be underestimated (Pellerrtti, interviewed by Mohatt et al., 10). This was a heartbreaking experience for Pelleritti, but he keeps his spirits up as he realizes that suicide is not the right way to solve the problem, there are better options (Pellerrtti, interviewed by Mohatt et al., 10). Turning away from the problem is never the solution.

For the mural project, he thinks it is a good platform, providing a place for people who have survived from suicide or who once had this idea to share their feelings without scruples (Pellerrtti et al., 11). Pelleritti thinks that this mural can help people understand that suicide is not a good way and there is a lot of hope in life (Pellerrtti et al., 11). Even if some people choose to commit suicide in the end, the mural can also express the thoughts and feelings of the victims. What makes the project so special is its ability to stay there permanently and I think the mana enhances the permanency as well as the meaning of the project. The long-lasting mural symbolizes the ever-lasting love of the one we care about. Although some people may no longer live in this world, the mural permanently retains the evidence and traces of their presence. The memory can not be erased and it is like a beautiful scar, fleeting like fireworks. The mural frames the eternal beauty that took place in the past and portrays the preciousness of life.

Fig. 3. James Burns (lead muralist), Close-up of the left side of the Finding the Light Within mural showing the quilt and community of people carrying the quilt. 2014, mural, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NCBI, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3865777/

Interview with James Burns, Lead Muralist

Burns is the lead muralist who is asked to produce a piece of artwork to help raise awareness about suicide. At the same time, he also saw his friend take his life away. Burns and other community members have done lots of preparation before starting the actual project and this includes scripts, websites to share individual's stories, college workshops and a community conversation series.

Burns explains some important parts of the work according to his perspective. Firstly, it is the importance of using 'water' to symbolize the feeling of being drowned and suffocated. Water is multifaceted, it is quiet but sometimes terrifying, resembling the pressure of life. With no ability to breathe, Burns uses water here to describe what depressed people would feel when they have no hope of living. Secondly, Burns introduces the use of quilts in making the mural, and he uses photos and information that are posted in preparation. For example, the photos of their loved ones who have been lost to suicide (Burns, interviewed by Mohatt et al., 7). Using quilts reminds people of the precious memories of the past and makes them realize that everything is valuable. The quilt is a metaphor for a life circle, it is a support for people who are in desperation or have been in similar situations. Lastly, it is the idea of separating the loved ones in the picture when putting them on the mural. Many people have provided intimate pictures of themselves with their loved ones as resources, Burns intentionally separated the photos, and placed them oppositely on the wall. Separation is a symbol of pain, it emphasizes the horror of death and the harm to people who have seen their loved ones commit suicide.

Burns says, "I saw the project helping with the shame that is attached to suicide. The project became an opportunity for the families to come together and celebrate the person (Burns, interviewed by Mohatt et al., 8). " The mana of the mural is effective as it improves people's awareness of this issue and encourages them to help others. While Finding The Light Within is raising people's awareness, it is also providing a platform for the victims' family and friends to talk with each other and ask for help. The mural decreases the distance between each other and changes the stereotype of suicide. Strangers are no longer strangers, as they become supporters of each other without any shame. Humans are social animals and they can't survive without the help of others. Finding The Light Within enables people to know the importance of asking for help and being supportive of others. "Take something that is hard to talk about and often seen as shameful into the public in a way that allows the social structure to acknowledge the problem in a different way (Burns, interviewed by Mohatt et al., 8). " Furthermore, as Burns mentions, this project asks people to face the problem of suicide more naturally and directly as it is not a shameful topic to discuss. It changes the stereotype of how people perceive suicide and makes them realize that suicide requires active communication, help and understanding.

Conclusion

According to the topic of social isolation, this writing explores the main causes of mental health problems of people under COVID-19 and points out that two sources of pressure come from personal psychology and society. The instability of social structure and depressed thoughts make people suffer different degrees of harm, leading to one of the worst issues, suicide. By drawing on the Durkheimian perspective, this article points out that the impact of anomic suicide is at a societal and personal level. Subsequently, the paper uses the Maori terminology ---- Mana Taonga, to investigate how the artwork's mana can contribute effects on places and people. It proposes that the location and the use of art should be considered thoroughly before it is publicized, especially in current circumstances, reducing mental health problems.

Reference:

Landau, Elizabeth. “Can Artwork Influence Suicidal Thoughts?” CNN, Cable News Network, 13 July 2010, edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/13/suicide.locations.barriers/index.html.

Mohatt, Nathaniel V et al. “A community's response to suicide through public art: stakeholder perspectives from the Finding the Light Within project.” American journal of community psychology vol. 52,1-2 (2013): 197-209. doi:10.1007/s10464-013-9581-7

Newman, Tim. “Mental Health: Definition, Common Disorders, Early Signs, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 13 Apr. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543#definition.

Sample, Ian, and India Rakusen. “Covid-19: How Can Social Isolation Affect Us? – Science Weekly Podcast.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Apr. 2020, www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2020/apr/15/covid-19-how-can-social-isolation-affect-us-podcast.

Schorch, Philipp, and Arapata Hakiwai. “Mana Taonga and the Public Sphere: A Dialogue between Indigenous Practice and Western Theory.” International Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 17, no. 2, Mar. 2014, pp. 191–205, doi:10.1177/1367877913482785.

Serpa S, Ferreira CM. Anomie in the sociological perspective of Émile Durkheim. Sociol Int J. 2018;2(6):689‒691. DOI: 10.15406/sij.2018.02.00121

Smith, Huhana. “ Mana Taonga and the Micro World of Intricate Research and Findings around Taonga Māori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.” Sites a Journal for South Pacific Cultural Studies., 2009, ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL2400397.

Walker, Holly. “The Perils of Loneliness in the Time of Covid-19.” The Spinoff, The Spinoff, 11 Apr. 2020, thespinoff.co.nz/society/14-04-2020/the-perils-of-loneliness-in-the-time-of-covid-19/.

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adazhang-ccc-2020-blog · 5 years ago

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Week 13

Class notes

Structure of feelings about my topic:

Dominant idea: Suicide is not only influenced by society but an individual's thoughts are also essential to take into account. The increase in suicidality occurs, particularly during adolescence.

Residual idea: We cannot talk about suicide in public or with a group of people, as people would think you are saying something else. Because of the seriousness of the problem, it is not a normal thing for us to talk about, and it is dangerous to even mention it.

Emergent idea: Self-awareness can enable us to realize the pain, however, it can also invite suicidal thoughts. It is not the aversiveness of psychache that kills, but the idea of suicide as an available means of escaping it.

Resource I have looked at

The Evolution of Suicide By C A Soper, pg 87 https://books.google.com/books?id=DS5mDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=what+is+the+emergent+idea++for+suicide&source=bl&ots=70Mi8nrjkD&sig=ACfU3U04kbLdFkxIx8ksq6F_wQkX3BJWVQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAxq27us7pAhUCHaYKHTeeBUMQ6AEwAHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20the%20emergent%20idea%20%20for%20suicide&f=false

Further research

Can artwork influence suicidal thoughts?

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN. July 13, 2010

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/13/suicide.locations.barriers/index.html

Brief description: it focuses on the negative artworks which have been published in public in Russia, and its effect might have been brought to people. Some psychologists think that for artwork that are negative, dark and might contains suicidal behaviours could influence people's mental health.

Notes

The artwork has been raising eyebrows among mental health professionals and bloggers alike. The question remains: Could this subway station become a place that encourages suicidal behaviour?

Too early to say what will happen, but could be inviting suicidal behaviour.

It can affect people already at risk, said Nadine Kaslow, a psychologist at Emory University.

More recently, many systematic studies have found that media reporting can lead to imitative suicidal behaviours and that young people and those suffering from depression can be especially vulnerable.

Against describing or showing photographically the specifics of suicide method and location, as these details and images may encourage others to imitate the act.

Thoughts

This article agrees that artwork can influence suicidal thoughts in terms of its content and the way it 's presented.

Sometimes the content in artworks is dark and distorted due to time it was created and the impacts of the social environment within that period. Therefore, when people with mental health problems see these works, they may cause further harm to people’s psychology which is a commonly agreed view echoed by some psychologists.

In my opinion, the cause of this problem mainly depends on the content of the artworks as well as the way they are displayed. We cannot change the content of a work, nor can we control the production of such an art piece. Putting it on public display represents making it be seen and exposed. However, it is impossible to predict who will see it and who will be affected by looking at it. For people who are not suicidal, the effect is small, but for people who have mild or severe problems, it can be fatal.

The proper use of art is essential, as it can help others to some extent, but when it is misused or misleading, it can have the opposite effect and have a serious impact.

I think what we can do is to minimize the exposure of works like this in public which can have a great negative impact on people’s mental health, or we can use the artwork in another way, for example, turning the content into something positive, something that can help people out.

A Community’s Response to Suicide Through Public Art: Stakeholder Perspectives from the Finding the Light Within Project

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3865777/

Citation: Mohatt, Nathaniel V et al. “A community's response to suicide through public art: stakeholder perspectives from the Finding the Light Within project.” American journal of community psychology vol. 52,1-2 (2013): 197-209. doi:10.1007/s10464-013-9581-7

Brief description: This article presents seven first person accounts of Finding the Light Within, a community mobilization initiative to reduce the stigma associated with suicide through public arts participation that took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 2011 through 2012.

Notes:

#Introduction

The purpose or content: Describe a community mobilization effort to address the issue of suicide through public arts. It focuses on the shared experiences of suicide survivors as well as stories of individual and community healing and resilience in the aftermath of suicide.

The high risks: Pennsylvania’s suicide rate (11 per 100,000) is significantly higher than neighbouring New York (6.91) and New Jersey (6.71) (CDC 2011), and in Philadelphia, the rate of suicide attempts per 100,000 among African American youth (12.1) is significantly higher than that of nearby New York City (6.5) and Baltimore (7.8) (CDC 2011).

Presenting a series of seven, brief first-person accounts. Each first-person account is the personal statement of the individual or pair. This format offers a 360° perspective on how participatory public art can be used as a mechanism for social change and community mobilization to address what is historically considered to be an individual mental health problem—suicide and its aftermath.

Finding the Light Within resulted in considerable local publicity that promoted a public narrative of suicide and its aftermath that contained both stories of pain and suffering and ones of collective healing, resilience, and hope.

My thoughts:

The example of the mural artwork is opposite to the one displayed in Russia metro station. Although they share the same content which is about suicide and are also publicized in public places, they are playing different roles and having different influences. If the work in Russia station brings negative influences, oppositely this mural has full of positivities.

Community members are urging people to face suicide issues directly and to help those who are suicidal. The Community provides a platform where everyone reaches out to each other, acknowledges the serious negative consequences of suicide, and encourages people instead of giving up their hope try to pull themselves out of the pain.

I think it's a great example of turning a negative subject into a positive project. People have the chances to express their emotions and share with others with no fear and shame. By making the work public, more people can see it and be healed. In the rest of the article, the first-person perspective is adopted to narrate their points on the project which is good as the audience can engage their thoughts more deeply and truly.

#Margaret Pelleritti, Community Member and Suicide Survivor

One of the biggest challenges with suicide is how much it affects the people surviving, outside of even the direct survivors.

He thinks that it's better if this project can help people realize that suicide is not the answer to problems, to understand why some people would choose to suicide and to heal some of them.

Pelleritti has lost his son. But he never gives in to life, his daughter is the reason he keeps on his life for.

The painting was very permanent. When you put the brush into the paint, you know that what you are doing is something very lasting for someone that you love. Doing this for the memory, even though the person was long gone, he was here once before.

I hope this project can help spread the word. By sharing anyone’s story, whether it is someone who attempted or someone who lost someone, by sharing these stories we are hopefully creating a light bulb moment for someone to realize I feel this way, or I don’t want my mother to feel this way.

Make people realize they do want to live, whether it is something like the Out of the Darkness Walk or the Finding the Light Within mural, to save lives so that there are no more survivors.

My thoughts:

This part is about the experience of a suicide survivor who has seen people committed suicide and his views on this mural project. He believes the effects of suicide are mutual, and the impact on others can not be underestimated. Suicide to their own injury is the physical destruction, for them, their morbid psychology makes them only focus on themselves, as a result, they have no way to know and can not take into account the people who cherish them and understand how much pain these people will be in. Pelleritti saw his uncle commit suicide when he was young, and when he had children, he saw his son chose to end his life as well. These were heartbreaking experiences, but he kept his spirits up as he realized that suicide was not the right way to solve the problem, there were better options and turning away from the problem can not be helpful. He still has his love and his daughter.

For the mural painting project, he thinks it is a good platform, providing a place for people who have survived from suicide or who once had this idea to share their feelings without scruples. It's also a way to be aware of and cherish your life. First of all, he thinks that this mural can help people understand that suicide is not a good way and there is a lot of hope in life. Even if some people choose to commit suicide in the end, mural painting can also convey the thoughts of those who commit suicide, so that we can know their real thoughts justly.

I really like what Pelleritti said about the permanence within the mural and I agree that the characteristic enhances the meaning of the project. The long-lasting mural symbolizes the ever-lasting love for the one you care about. Although some people may no longer be in this world, the murals have permanently retained the evidence and traces of their presence. Although everything is over, the memory is unable to be erased, it is like a beautiful scar, fleeting like fireworks. The mural frames the eternal beauty that took place in the past and portrays the preciousness of life.

I Want To Live

A photography project exploring suicide

http://iwanttolive.photography/

Full project link http://danielregan.photography/iwanttolive/

This photography project is run by photographer Daniel Regan and suicide prevention charity Maytree.

The project comprises several interviews and photographic portraits of Maytree’s volunteer workforce, investigating what brings people to volunteer with those in suicidal crisis, volunteers’ own mental health experiences and the impact of suicide.

One of the interviewees

Kwabena

I was studying social work when I started volunteering at Maytree. I enjoyed my time there so I continued even after I’d finished my studies.

There are so many people out there that try to commit suicide. I’m not trying to save them but I am trying to support them. I try to offer them different perspectives that help them recognise their difficulties. I do feel that I’m contributing in some way, even if it’s just helping them on to the path of recovery. The fact that people can make a phone call to Maytree is a sign of strength, to recognise where they are and what they need.

I know family and friends that have been affected by depression so that’s impacted my decision to stay there. It’s very simple at Maytree, it’s just talking and allowing people to express their emotions, but it’s also very effective. Whenever I do a shift it always feels like the first week that I’ve been there because the situation is so fresh and different. We form short but meaningful connections with guests. Because the connection is so temporary it’s easy to say how you feel with someone, which I think helps to get things out and be honest.

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