By capturing our attention and transporting us to a different state of mind, immersion in the arts can lead to emotional experiences and self-transformation.
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April 2023
HUMANITIES AND HUMAN FLOURISHING NEWSLETTER
Advancing the understanding, assessment, and cultivation of well-being by means of a deep and sustained collaboration between the arts, humanities, and social sciences
Unlock Your Well-being with Artistic Immersion
Have you ever found yourself utterly captivated by a painting, novel, or song? These immersive experiences with the arts have the power to evoke strong emotions, inspire personal growth, and enhance overall well-being. By capturing our attention and transporting us to a different state of mind, immersion in the arts can lead to meaningful emotional experiences and even self-transformation. This deep absorption can induce a state of flow, in which we lose track of time and experience heightened enjoyment.
Recent studies have shown increases in participants' well-being after experiencing virtual art gallery visits, with immersion levels being a strong predictor of post-visit well-being. This suggests that the deeper we immerse ourselves in the arts, the more benefits we can expect to gain. Unfortunately, many of us visit museums and galleries, browse superficially, and leave feeling unchanged and uninspired. To get more out of these artistic encounters, we should focus on immersing ourselves more profoundly in the experience.
One technique that promotes immersive art engagement is slow looking, which involves spending an extended amount of time observing a single artwork. This method, adopted by over 1,500 institutions worldwide during Slow Art Day, results in more pleasant and relaxed feelings. The next time you visit a museum, be patient. Seek out a work that resonates with you and spend time contemplating it. You may uncover layers of meaning that weren't apparent at first glance, and your patience could be rewarded with a sense of calmness, joy, or inspiration that initially seemed elusive. (If you are looking for an opportunity to engage in slow looking, Slow Art Day is just around the corner on April 15 - here's how to participate.)
The research on immersion and well-being indicates that fruitfully engaging with the arts is a deliberate practice. The benefits of art don't simply happen to us; we must actively engage and dig deep to experience rich, transformative encounters with the arts. So, whether you're exploring a local art museum, losing yourself in a captivating book, or attending a mesmerizing dance performance, try as best you can to remove any distractions and allow yourself to focus completely on the activity. This increases the likelihood that you will feel "carried away" and experience the transformative power of artistic immersion.
What does it feel like for you to be fully immersed in a work of art? What happens to your mood and sense of well-being, the stretch of your imagination, your conception of time, and your curiosity and openness? Are there certain fields of arts engagement that make you feel particularly immersed – like literature, visual arts, music, theater, or film? Do you feel more immersed when you’re creating art, or observing it?
Immersion and the Arts in Research
Recent research by Koehler and colleagues has found that autonomous, intrinsic motivation to make music is associated with subjective well-being, but that this relationship is moderated by flow experiences–a form of immersion–during music making.
Immersion and the Arts in Practice
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, created by digital art master Massimiliano Siccardi, offers a captivating experience that allows visitors to "step inside" and intimately engage with Vincent van Gogh's legendary works through state-of-the-art technology and animation. This groundbreaking exhibition, which has garnered rave reviews and achieved blockbuster status, fosters immersion by transforming the way that audiences connect with Van Gogh’s masterpieces.
HHF News
Katherine Cotter, the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project’s Associate Director of Research, published a chapter in the recently released Cambridge Handbook of Creativity and Emotions. Her piece, Assessing Creativity and Affect in Everyday Environments, provides an overview of ecological momentary assessment techniques (i.e., daily dairy and experience sampling methods) commonly used in creativity research.
Upcoming Events
As part of the HHF colloquium series, we are hosting a series of conversations between scientists and practitioners on the arts, culture, and well-being. This spring, we will hear from innovators working in research institutions and cultural organizations on how engagement in theater, music, and the visual arts can promote well-being in individuals and communities. We welcome you to join us for these virtual events and to take part in these important exchanges:
- Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 3:30 to 5:00pm ET – Katherine Cotter + Kate Meador, discussing art museums as institutions for well-being (more information and registration here*)
Couldn't make it to one of our past colloquia? Check out the recording on our HHF YouTube Channel.
* Link has been updated.
Katherine Cotter, the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project’s Associate Director of Research, will give a virtual presentation, "The Arts for Human Flourishing," at the Torrance Festival of Ideas (registration is free) on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 2:00pm ET.
This newsletter was created by Andrew Trousdale, Katherine Cotter, Sarah Sidoti, and James Pawelski.
