Original Cop3 proposal HOW DO ART AND COMEDY OFFER A DEMOCRATIC VOICE ON MENTAL HEALTH? Democratic art and comedy Communication/expression Reducing mental health stigma Community Accessibility
Shift of focus away from outsider art
More broad theme - comedy as a coping mechanism How both creating and accessing comedy can act as means of ‘therapy’ Both in terms of performing stand up routines and producing humorous but meaningful art works
Comedians - stand up comedy Stand Up For Mental Health Validation Showing vulnerability - makes the content more accessible
Functions of humour Relief theory - a release from a build up of tension for the speaker and the audience Superiority theory
Accessing comedy Humorous element to personal anecdotes (in illustration and stand up) makes the content more accessible - makes viewer more comfortable Reducing stigma, opening up conversations Overcoming ‘sociocultural inhibitions’ - taboo subjects Giving audiences the strength to open up Anxiety safe space comedy - Sofie Hagen - more practically, comedy shows recognised as place where people with mental health issues may go. Becoming more widespread - Comedy Central and Mind
Creating art
Rubyetc Hiller Goodspeed
Practical plan Personal illustration with an element of humour to it. Allowing me to experiment with a number of things I’m interested in: characters, sequential illustration, and humour in my work. Suited to the focus on ‘process’ over a finished piece