My dissertation will discuss the role of rituals and how this links to art, for example when rituals are used in art. It will discuss their general roles, intentions and purposes. As an example, praying is often used to remove fear; people often pray for the prevention of events that they have no control over, as well as some that they do have control over through means that are not praying. I will be looking at the similarities between religious/cultural rituals and habits/compulsions. More specifically, this is the idea that they are actions performed to combat a problem that they cannot realistically prevent, or to remove a negative feeling without actually having an impact on the source of that negative feeling. The fact that the ritual or habit does not solve the problem that it aims to but temporarily removes the negative feeling associated with the problem is what causes the ritual or habit to be performed repetitively. I will be considering the illogical aspects of this: the illogical idea that while repeating the same action over and over in the past has not made a difference, it may do in the future and thus should not be discontinued. I will also be looking at varied examples of this. The main examples will be religious rituals, and compulsions such as obsessive checking and hoarding. Praying removes some fear of uncertainty, but not the actual uncertainty. This is similar to obsessively checking that the doors and windows in a house are locked; the action temporarily provides relief but does not remove the uncertainty regarding possible break-ins. There are some other examples I may outline; buying out of desire and not need can be seen as an action caused by primitive desires that it cannot permanently satisfy, and so this becomes a habit. Sometimes drugs are taken out of unhappiness but the happiness they provide is temporary, so this also becomes a habit; the same applies to emotional eating. The negative emotion and desire to remove it can cause illogical behaviour and an inability to notice that the behaviour is repetitive and not a solution, or an unwillingness to do something about this. Another example is cutting off the top of a weed without removing the root; the same applies to warts. Rituals/habits, however, can be logical, for example it is mostly considered to be fine that washing a plate is only a temporary fix; the cause of the plate becoming dirty is that a person is eating off it, which is commonly considered to be an acceptable thing to do. I will be discussing the idea that some rituals are logical and that some are not, as well as the idea that while some rituals interfere negatively with one’s life, some do not, regardless of how logical or illogical they are.
I will be discussing rituals and compulsions used in art, and similarities between their motives and effects. Hoarding is a common example which I can analyse. I will be applying theories proposed by cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as some of Sigmund Freud’s quirkier ideas. I will also read about artists’ own views on why they carry out certain rituals.
A relevant example is Mike Ballard’s “Who’s (sic) Coat is that Jacket You’re Wearing?” in which he exhibited over two hundred coats he compulsively stole as a reaction to his own coat being stolen. Over two hundred repetitive actions were carried out for the removal of a negative feeling, but without the ability to solve the problem that caused the negative feeling. Song Dong’s “Waste Not,” is an example of hoarding, in which the artist displayed all the items hoarded by his mother, who had also previously experienced a time of poverty where it was beneficial for one to keep all they could. However, the hoarding was triggered by the death of her husband, and Dong’s feeling is that is mother was addressing a “need to fill the emptiness.” My bibliography will include books about cognitive behavioural therapy, which will help with the understanding of thinking habits and their effects. I am also reading Sigmund Freud’s “Civilization and its Discontents” as it discusses humanity’s impulses and desires and how these are dealt with. Adam Curtis’ documentary “The Century of the Self” is also useful for this.
My working title is either “How are Rituals Used in Art?” or “How Do Rituals Relate to Art?” but this will likely change as I get a better grasp on exactly what I am investigating or analysing. I will be using a standard essay structure.
I will be discussing rituals and compulsions used in art, and similarities between their motives and effects. Hoarding is a common example which I can analyse. I will be applying theories proposed by cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as some of Sigmund Freud’s quirkier ideas. I will also read about artists’ own views on why they carry out certain rituals.
A relevant example is Mike Ballard’s “Who’s (sic) Coat is that Jacket You’re Wearing?” in which he exhibited over two hundred coats he compulsively stole as a reaction to his own coat being stolen. Over two hundred repetitive actions were carried out for the removal of a negative feeling, but without the ability to solve the problem that caused the negative feeling. Song Dong’s “Waste Not,” is an example of hoarding, in which the artist displayed all the items hoarded by his mother, who had also previously experienced a time of poverty where it was beneficial for one to keep all they could. However, the hoarding was triggered by the death of her husband, and Dong’s feeling is that is mother was addressing a “need to fill the emptiness.” My bibliography will include books about cognitive behavioural therapy, which will help with the understanding of thinking habits and their effects. I am also reading Sigmund Freud’s “Civilization and its Discontents” as it discusses humanity’s impulses and desires and how these are dealt with. Adam Curtis’ documentary “The Century of the Self” is also useful for this.
My working title is either “How are Rituals Used in Art?” or “How Do Rituals Relate to Art?” but this will likely change as I get a better grasp on exactly what I am investigating or analysing. I will be using a standard essay structure.
