Meaning: where art and science truly support each other.
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October 2022
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 the social sciences
The art(s and humanities) of meaning-making
Friedrich Nietzsche famously wrote, “If we have our own why in life, we shall get along with almost any how.”
These words resonated deeply with Victor Frankl. As a Jewish psychotherapist working from Nazi concentration camps, Frankl’s optimism and resilience exemplified the psychological power of meaning.
Science now supports what Nietzsche and Frankl intuitively knew. People with meaning are more resilient in the face of challenges, pursuing their goals with greater success. They are also happier, more fulfilled and more connected to others, forming more integrated, virtuous communities.
While there is a robust psychology of meaning, science in many ways cannot fully capture the things that are meaningful to us – our relationships and pastimes, how we understand ourselves, and our sense of mystery and purpose.
Instead, these profound sources of meaning are best captured by poets, musicians, painters, and mystics. To make sense of what matters, most of us turn to the arts and humanities. And we do this for good reason. New research shows that live encounters with the arts improve our wellbeing, and consuming visual and literary arts deepen our sense of meaning. Meanwhile, music that elicits a sense of awe enhances our mood, making us more prosocial.
Meaning is a topic where art and science truly support each other. So if you are searching for a sense of meaning, try engaging in the arts and humanities - grab a book, listen to music, or visit a museum.
The next time you listen to a song, view an artwork, or read a book, take a moment to reflect on how it connects to your own experiences. What similarities or differences do you notice? How does it give you new insights about yourself?
Meaning in Research
Recent research by Baker and colleagues (2018) suggests that song-making can aid in recovery from neurological injuries through helping participants better understand themselves and who they are as they recover from injury, and to reconstruct their identity.
Meaning in Practice
The North Dakota Council on the Arts’ Art for Life program is helping to enhance meaning in the lives of older adults. Through a variety of artistic activities (like the below Togolese drumming session), older adults are able to engage in creative aging and improve their sense of purpose and well-being.
HHF News
The Humanities and Human Flourishing Project will begin its second term as a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Research Lab in October 2022. Visit our website to learn more about our research during our first term as a NEA Research Lab and our collaborating partners.
Upcoming Events
As part of the HHF colloquium series, we will be hosting a series of conversations between scientists and practitioners on the arts, culture, and well-being. This fall, we will hear from innovators working in research institutions and art museums on how the work of art museums 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:
- October 19, 10:00 to 11:30am ET - Matthew Pelowski + Kate Mulligan (register here)
- November 16, 10:00 to 11:30am ET - Rebecca Chamberlain + Dana Bishop-Root (register here)
This newsletter was created by Andrew Trousdale, Katherine Cotter, Sarah Sidoti, and James Pawelski.
