Date of Award
Spring 3-11-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PHD - Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
Shaun McNiff
Second Advisor
Vivien Marcow-Speiser
Third Advisor
Barbara McIntyre
Abstract
This art-based research explores whether — and, if so, how — the process of painting, together with witnessing and reflection on the process and imagery, further an understanding of intimacy. The research also examines the conditions that favor intimacy, the obstacles to intimacy, and the particular features of artistic media, processes and reflection, through the editing of video footage, that can further the intimate experience. The participants in the study were five adults (including the researcher) between the ages of thirty and eighty who were familiar with the creation of visual art. Among them were three women and two men who vary in their socio-cultural characteristics and marital status. The research process included six modes of inquiry as interdependent elements: drawing and painting by the co-researchers in three experimental sessions witnessed by the researcher; reflective discussions with co-researchers; artistic responses by the researcher; a private exhibition; editing of video footage and creation of edited videos; and culminating discussions and review with the participant co-researchers. This study identified two interdependent operational elements within intimacy: commitment to the present moment and looking closely. Specific features of artistic media, processes and reflection through video acted as mediators and furthered intimate experience. These empirical qualities are: (1) persistence and continued immersion, (2) being physically close and zooming in, (3) attention to detail, and (4) sensuousness. Four conditions were found to favor the intimate experience: (1) dedication of time and space, (2) openness to seeing and being seen, (3) an urge to move closer, and (4) curiosity: the desire to question and wonder. It was noted that obstacles to intimacy include (1) mental and physical distractions, (2) the inner judge, and (3) restlessness.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Language
English
Number of Pages
122
Recommended Citation
Lev, Michal, "Painting Intimacy: Art-Based Research of Intimacy" (2019). Expressive Therapies Dissertations. 60.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_dissertations/60
The compressed final edited video of the research study - Painting Intimacy
Compressed - Nirit, Edited Video.mp4 (78959 kB)
The compressed edited video of Co-researcher Nirit
Compressed - Ofira, Edited video.mp4 (73796 kB)
The compressed edited video of Co-researcher Ofira
Compressed - Nir, edited video.mp4 (91166 kB)
The compressed edited video of Co-researcher Nir
Compressed - Eran, edited video.mp4 (94708 kB)
The compressed edited video of Co-researcher Eran
Compressed - Michal, edited video - response art.mp4 (101328 kB)
The compressed edited video of researcher Michal for the Response Art
Included in
Aesthetics Commons, Art Practice Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Other Arts and Humanities Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Other Sociology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Philosophy of Mind Commons, Philosophy of Science Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Theory and Philosophy Commons, Transpersonal Psychology Commons
Rights
The author owns the copyright to this work.
Comments
Art-based research of intimacy