In this focus group, we will discuss the ways in which hidden, internal suffering often debilitates the role of activists. We will focus on three main topics: Depression, Repression, and Expression
Some questions we will try to answer include:
How can we create a sustainable empathy without excluding certain bodies from our ability to care?
What role does visibility (or, alternatively, a lack of visibility) have in validating or invalidating depression?
How do experiences and memories of trauma play in our day-to-day lives, building a prickly barrier to paths forward?
How can we find ways of regaining mental wellness through artisitc and creative expressions?
The focus group will be largely centered on engaged discussion, weekly reflections of assigned readings, and collaborative artistic projects.
Texts currently include (but are subject to change):