2 months break and we are FULL pelt back into more work than I think I even thought about for Module 1! I'm lucky in a sense that since doing my mod 1 essay I've known that I really want my inquiry to be based around the negative impacts on people's mental health in our industry. I now just need to read about and find specifically what area I want to focus on. The last couple of days I've really been thinking and I can't seem to make my thoughts clear so I thought I would put them on here to see if anyone else could assist me?
I think it's really interesting how singing and performing as a whole are used as ways to aid people in helping with their mental health. Singing has scientific proof that it releases endorphins in the brain etc. people who have been through troubled times use these mediums to bring about a more positive future. So why when it becomes a profession does it perhaps go against this? we all get into this industry for these exact reasons, because it brings us a joy no other thing can replace so why are there more and more cases of mental illness coming to light? There's an added pressure, the stakes are higher, you may not eat if you don't get this job. There's an uncertainty to our profession where we may not know when we next get to do what we love so much, we can't plan holidays incase we get a job or audition, we spend the money we do earn on extra training so what's left for a social life? For something we all undeniably adore why does it create such an unstable life?
I want to explore the effects of this lifestyle and career that we choose and how it correlates to our wellbeing and mental health? is it really worth it? I think so. I think no matter what we go through that opportunity to perform is second to none. But then this brings out the question of people working for free and people being manipulated to do things they don't want to do because it may get them a job. But that's a WHOLE other story!
I just want to understand more about why something we love so passionately can also be the thing that causes the most anxiety, stress, depression, to name a few. (Sounds like a relationship now too) actually thinking of it as a relationship, it's because it means SO much to us. But i'm rambling now.
I'd love to know any thoughts you all have on the splurge that I've written! or if you see a pattern in what I'm writing?
Welcome back chaps!
Module 2 here we come...
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteGreat post…..in fact this post flooded my brain with lots of thoughts and memories. Some amazing and others quite frustrating.
I believe that my time training and during my career given me the bad relationship I have with my body and food. Its only really in the last year or so that I have been able to control this.
I also feel I gained the personality traits of anxiousness or being worried I’m not liked by my colleagues or I’m not good enough has come from this industry. I think this has come from my time at auditions or contracts. Always worrying that this may be my last or I’m not doing it well enough and I won’t get another contract after this. In fact, this actually happened to me during one contract that I had to leave for compassionate reasons, and they didn’t re-hire me. No explanation came, I was just left wondering. Again, its only recently that I can try to put all this behind me and I think as you grow into a person or into your other roles you are able to over-come these insecurities…but it’s still very hard.
Despite all the above I wouldn’t change my time as a performer, as the feeling you get when you are in front of an audience is immense and like you say second to none- something that the average ‘mugle’ will never understand. In a way it’s like a drug- the more you do the more you crave…? I mean I’ve never taken drugs but you get my jist.
I think this is a great inquiry as its very prominent at the moment. I would suggest if you can think about maybe talking to students who are now having to spend their time training for dance colleges from their own home via zoom. And see how this has affect them…even before they step out to the big bad world of the industry. A lot of the students I teach from year 12/13 have struggled a lot with the online concept and I think it this could be an interesting aspect to find out about.
There is an Instagram page called simple politics that had a post last week which I thought was interesting. It was children’s mental health week last week and I thought it was quite ironic that the exact things that the govt. were telling children to take part in, were the exact things that last year they deemed as ‘un-viable’.
Ive added the link- see what you think.
Sorry this is a massive reply… but great post…great inquiry idea!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK1jHm7ni-K/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
A lot of students my brother teaches have expressed the same thing, as I don't teach though, I don't think this is the right stem for me to go down as it won't help my personal practise grow. I was thinking of looking more into the casting process and if this correlates to diminishing mental health? or a specific different part of the industry, like maybe ...well I don't know haha that's what i have to think about haha!! great to read your experiences though, it's so awful but so rewarding!
DeleteHi Laura! I think you've certainly found a topic to dig into for your inquiry! It's funny I had this strange feeling when I graduated from college when lessons stopped and my housing lease was nearly up, of being like crap my passion is now my career and this awful feeling of self doubt and worry about the future. One thing I have struggled with so much during my professional career is the limbo feeling between jobs! I think that's why I have loved my cruise contracts as they majority of the time are a little bit more steady and reliable than auditioning all the time! I think you have to have such a thick skin for this industry and multiple times I have questioned this about myself. It's our dream, our love, our rush that keeps us going, but there are so many dark times and financial worries In between! Also it's hard sometimes not to take auditions personally as its our looks our body our talent that we put out there to be judged!
ReplyDeleteyeah this is another area that might be interesting to look into but i don't really know how to phrase it! like the impact on not performing for performers haha or something like that!
DeleteHey Laura! It looks as though you have definitely found a good topic to delve into for your inquiry and something that is becoming more and more prominent in the arts industries. I too wonder how practices that are so often used to help people suffering mental illnesses can become so toxic when one enters the professional industry. It really baffles me how by loving and being so passionate about something we are exposing ourselves to traumatic and unforgettable experiences, something that is deemed as "normal" within our industries!
ReplyDeleteHey Laura! Great post! that's amazing that you have found a subject matter that you are passionate about and want to explore further. i think that is what i have struggled with before in the past with M2. I haven't found a subject that i am interested in enough to explore further. Mental health is such a major part of being a performer and i couldn't agree with what you said more. I look forward to reading more of your post! best Chloe x
ReplyDeleteHey Laura, I really enjoyed reading your post and it has left me questioning too. When we enter the world of performing arts, we take on a whole new lifestyle, a lifestyle that isn't completely accepted by many people. And we do it because we want to be able to do what we love. Personally, I would take all the challenges that come along with it so that I can dance on stage and make an audience happy. I would often forget this when I was performing pre-covid.
ReplyDeleteI am also edging towards the topic of Mental Health for my inquiry, but hitting it at a different angle to you. I am looking forward to reading your next blogs x
Hi Laura, I definitely think there's a whole different approach to the mental health in our practice as soon as it turns from recreational to vocational, like a lot of the fun is lost with all of the pressure. But it really seems that there has been a huge break through in mental health in the arts recently. There are a lot of really interesting sources out there! I hope you will find and relate to it in ways which perhaps may even surprise you... enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting topic to be looking into! It also seems very appropriate right now with the pandemic and the effect it has had on performers, their work and their mental health. I think in the arts we are taught to perform as that is our job and so if we aren't feeling great it can be harder for us to open up because we aren't used to showing ourselves in that way- unless its for a role or character. I look forward to hear about what you develop! Thank you
Alys :) xx
Hi Laura, loved this post! I have wondered about this topic and seen it come up a lot, I think you've chosen a really interesting and relevant topic to get into. There's a disturbing paradox at the moment where the arts are increasingly used for therapy/wellbeing/supplementary purposes but on a professional level problems are either increasing or coming to light having been taboo. Like you say it's a whole different game professionally because stakes are higher and it is a means of life not just a way of life. For me unpredictability and uncertainty can be a massive worry but there are so, so many issues involved. Narrowing it down is a challenge (especially for a topic to cover in 12 weeks) but if it was me I would maybe reflect on if there was a particular experience I had where this was relevant and explore the nuances of that to get a smaller, more workable topic of inquiry. Looking forward to seeing where this takes you! x
ReplyDeletethanks for this reply, it was really helpful and I think i'll write another blog on the narrowing down that i've done to see whether you guys think it's narrowed enough!
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