I've settled into my bed for most of the day trying to get the urge to stop coughing and start typing. For some reason around 8 oclock I had the most powerful idea I had come up with in 24 hours. So let’s talk about good things going wrong, because for some reason I thought going heavy on the vicks vapor rub would stop my coughing completely, and because of this, it took me a whole two minutes to stop my eyes from watering and still another fifteen for my chest to stop burning. The cough won this one.
I was wandering around the internet today with several punches to the keys and I came across an amazing site that completely encompasses the whole relationship between positive messages and graffiti art. The vibe I had the other day glowing around task and gues, once again shocked my energy enough for a few extra coughs. ok, not really, but I am extremely excited about this site.
The site is dedicated to a program which uses graffiti art in therapeutic form, to help stem the issues going on with angry teens who deface public property out of pure emotion and/or gang related violence. The program is directed by Dr. Janice Hashino and it's intentions are outlined on the site ( http://www.graffitiverite.com/graffitiartTherapy.htm) by Dr. Hashino as such:
This study investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of using art therapy in conjunction with graffiti art and culture in the treatment of socially-defiant adolescents who have been detained and/or put on probation for defacing public property with graffiti. A group of seven boys will participate in a six week Graffiti Art Therapy group facilitated by an art therapy graduate student and a legitimate graffiti artist/youth worker. T tests will be run on the Adolescent Treatment Outcomes Module (ATOM) pre to post to determine level of significance (p<.05). In addition, journals kept by participants provide data for a qualitative analysis of Graffiti Art Therapy treatment effectiveness.
This outline provides a basis for the intentions of the program and its hopeful ability to provide answers through art. What is interesting to me, is the idea of taking adolescents who have already gotten in trouble for graffiti and giving them a space where they are aloud to create more of it. This is a good way to observe and understand the emotions behind their work the effectiveness it may or may not have on the children who continue to speak out in negative ways, such as involving themselves in gangs.
Hopefully we can continue to see more programs like this, because every walk of life deserves a chance to be understood.
Awww.
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In my opinion pre-teens who committ crimes have some form of anger which needs to be directed towards something. This program sounds awesome. I have seen some grafitti that was jaw dropping amazing, these children truly have a talent. I am glad somebody is trying to keep them out of the system. The system is a hard cycle to break once a person gets started especially at a young age.
ReplyDeletewww.flickr.com/nicole-erickson The pictures turned out amazing! I hope you like them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Not only does this program provide intended therapy, it also shows the kids how they can use this art form for constructive purposes. I guarantee these kids will recognize the value they can give graffiti. Maybe afterwards they can work with the program to help other kids that get into it. They should offer the program to kids that get in trouble for other minor crimes.
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