Interesting “Mental Health” Performing Arts
So…I found this video on YouTube. It’s called “Mental Health Excerpts” (apparently it’s a compilation of snippets from a longer piece called “Mental Health,” or so the introduction tells me), and aside from that fact that it’s grouped in the “Dance,” “Performing Arts,” “Contemporary Art,” and “Choreography Art” categories, I don’t know much else about it.
(Well, the video gives the names of the dancers and the DJ, but that’s about it.)
Have a gander and let me know what you think. Are these dancers and their moves representing certain mental health conditions? Are they managing mental illness through creativity and physical exercise? Or…what’s the deal going on here? I’m genuinely interested.
DISCLAIMER: Slight nudity. Well, the guys are in their underwear. That’s all. No peep shows or anything like that.
And, aside from this video, what do you think about contemporary performing art that represents mental health and mental illness in some way? Have any experience with it? Share with the class!
POSTED IN: Mental Health Notes
2 opinions for Interesting “Mental Health” Performing Arts
Stemulite
Nov 17, 2008 at 10:54 am
Well, I’ve never really understood modern dance and this was no different. I certainly struggle to make sense out of what I am watching. That being said, if what I watched was a representation of mental illness, I now understand why it is so painful to the individual. There was some creepy stuff going on in that video. Moreover, the general motif was pretty bleak.
Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Nov 19, 2008 at 12:47 am
@ Stemulite - Bleak indeed. I suppose we’d have to see the entire performance to really know what’s going on in it, but the little bit they show in the video is…depressing.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: