Artist as shrink

Artist as Shrink.

In relation to my practice I wish to look at how art is a translation from the internal to external – the unconscious mind to the conscious mind and into viewable artwork. I will look at psychoanalytic theories of the unconscious mind and the components of the psyche. I want to explore the idea of our unconscious mind harbouring thoughts and desires that on an unconscious level are translated into art.

When looking at the concept of the unconscious the first person to come to mind is the psychologist Sigmund Freud, unconscious meaning separate from the our consciousness.  The exploration of the unconscious was founded by Freud with a system known as ‘psychoanalysis’ but also includes contributions, other smaller systems stemming from the main system, from (his disciples) other psychologists; Carl Gustav Jung’s involvement with a separate yet valid system ‘analytic psychology;’ Alfred Adler with ‘individual psychology.’ The main understanding of this concept is “the belief that much human experience and behaviour springs from motives of which the individual is unconscious.” This system explains how there are three components of the psyche: “ p26…the id exerting instinctive, libidinous force, the superego representing cultural, civilised forces and the ego which achieves some balance between the other two.” A Textbook of Psychology, 1980. Page 27

When imbalances in the components of the unconscious arise, such as great stress on the ego which is the decider between one’s desires and conscience, then it can cause disturbances in a person’s mentality causing mild to erratic behaviour. Freud did a study on hysteria looking at how the mind fell to a mental breakdown because of internal disturbances – these disturbances often can be seen as being produced by external features, in particular Freud’s experiments to induce hysteria for the point of study. In relation to art, especially in relation to my own practice, I believe that internal disturbances are often used on an unconscious level to produce artworks – a relationship between the internal and external levels of consciousness. The film piece, “Vertigo” looks directly at the issue of hysteria and the symptoms brought on by inner conflicts – looking at circumstances that go beyond ordinary realms and into dark places which we find connecting to another part of ourselves. My opening point being that art and psychology go hand in hand as the effects of our own mentality on an unconscious level are translated into art forms because art itself is a meaning of expression – turning internal into external – and also a sheer morbid curiosity with subjects relating to the unknown.  

                Contained in the mind of someone – consciousness.

             Circumstances that go beyond – connect to another part of us.

(“Vertigo” – hysteria) (The Birds) 

 

Looking at therapeutic techniques, “free association to the elements of the patient’s dreams and the interpretation of the patient’s statements in terms of symbolic meanings…,” which are used by art forms such as abstract expressionism where techniques are used to express thoughts and emotions from the unconscious (example here). The Stream of Consciousness, a  Freudian concept, looks at how one can express elements from the unconscious by allowing themselves to write without intent or even thinking about what they write, thus to express their mentality or collective of ideas from within the mind that they did not know they had. I use similar methods in my practice to get an insight to my mentality, thoughts and memories stored in my unconscious – I am interested in the concept of hidden desires and ideas.

 

 

 

 

INTRO

Artist as Shrink.

In relation to my practice I wish to look at how art is a translation from the internal to external – the unconscious mind to the conscious mind and into viewable artwork. I will look at psychoanalytic theories of the unconscious mind and the components of the psyche. I want to explore the idea of our unconscious mind harbouring thoughts and desires that on an unconscious level are translated into art.

When looking at the concept of the unconscious the first person to come to mind is the psychologist Sigmund Freud, unconscious meaning separate from the our consciousness.  The exploration of the unconscious was founded by Freud with a system known as ‘psychoanalysis’ but also includes contributions, other smaller systems stemming from the main system, from (his disciples) other psychologists; Carl Gustav Jung’s involvement with a separate yet valid system ‘analytic psychology;’ Alfred Adler with ‘individual psychology.’ The main understanding of this concept is “the belief that much human experience and behaviour springs from motives of which the individual is unconscious.” This system explains how there are three components of the psyche: “…the id exerting instinctive, libidinous force, the superego representing cultural, civilised forces and the ego which achieves some balance between the other two.” A Textbook of Psychology, 1980. Page 27

IDEAS

First paragraph is looking at the components of the unconscious; focusing to begin with on the Id, Ego and Super Ego as expressed by Freudian theories. (Jung says the mind is made up of two types, the personal and the collective).  Progressing to look at the idea of how personal conflicts effects the unconscious and thus can be seen as transferred into creative outlets portraying how there is a connection between art and the components of the psyche. (Examples – e.g. the Birds – title piece, sound art, representing a rupture in the mind/ “Vertigo” film piece, inspired by the element of hysteria).

Second paragraph – looking at motivations behind the unconscious; what causes these changes, decisions and disturbances in mental states? Progressing to look at Freud’s theory of motivation behind the unconscious – suggests that it is to do with wish fulfilement.
 Contradicting this Jung believed in an archetypal theory, “…the essential life force was essentially spiritual in nature.” P28 Dreams and fantasies = archetypes. To do with meanings behind dreams.



FOCUSING ON:
Components of the psyche.
Make up of dreams.
Imagination - ideas and impression.
Wish fulfilment.
 

Beginnings

LOOKNG AT THE MAKE UP OF THE UNCONSCIOUS

Three components of the psyche (according to Freudian theories): “…the id exerting instinctive, libidinous force, the superego representing cultural, civilised forces and the ego which achieves some balance between the other two.” A Textbook of Psychology, 1980. Page 27

Looking therapeutic techniques, “free association to the elements of the patient’s dreams and the interpretation of the patient’s statements in terms of symbolic meanings…,” which are used by art forms such as abstract expressionism where techniques are used to express thoughts and emotions from the unconscious (example here). The Stream of Consciousness, a  Freudian concept, looks at how one can express elements from the unconscious by allowing themselves to write without intent or even thinking about what they write, thus to express their mentality or collective of ideas from within the mind that they did not know they had. I use similar methods in my practice to get an insight to my mentality, thoughts and memories stored in my unconscious – I am interested in the concept of hidden desires and ideas.

Certain aspects of Freud’s theories cause a controversy in psychology, such as “his belief that much human motivation is, especially from the id, is unconscious.” P27

Carl Gustav Jung expresses views of analytic psychology but these vary from Freud’s theories in different ways, in particularly his “dismissal of libido as the central life-force.” p28 Jung believed, similar to Freud, that the unconscious was made up of two parts; the personal and the collective.

Basic beginning plans

FIRST PARAGRAPH:
Main focus is to explain the basic theories set out by Freud; look at how these components explain artist’s work, e.g. how unconscious translates to consciousness, producing work from imagination etc.

 Looking at the how the unconscious mind works – exploring the idea of the three components. Conflict and compromise between the unconscious and conscious/ primary and secondary thought processes. Processes that lead to creative elements that develop ideas into something new and into art (references to imagination; impression and idea)

((Reasons for everything we do.               Looking at circumstances reasons/what makes us. Psychology starts from a root.))

-              “Blue Velvet” (film)

-              “I want to tell you something, it’s been on my mind for a while.”

-  “Imagination” Mary Warnock

- “The Aesthetic Unconscious” Jacques Ranciere

- Freudian theories on unconscious/components of the psyche.

 

SECOND PARAGRAPH: 

Arguing these concepts