Collective storytelling: art and film to process an unexpected loss

ABSTRACT Background This qualitative arts-based research study examined the experience of graduate art therapy students, who were in the middle of their degree when their university abruptly closed. Once the program was successfully established at the new institution, students engaged in collective storytelling through art and film, then participated in a focus group to reflect on their learning. Aims: The research aimed to examine the use of collective storytelling, art and film to process an unexpected loss. Methods: A narrative feminist lens was applied in examining the qualitative rich text examples from this three-phase study to support processing their experience. Results: Participants were bonded through the collective experience and found that seeing other people’s art and story helped validate the isolation felt in their individual experience. Engaging in this process provided them a way to fill in gaps in their memory. Conclusions: Through the process of creation, reflection and dialogue, they were able to make meaning and appreciate the struggle, connecting it to learning and growth. Implications for practice: The study provides a framework for processing collective loss and considers the application of this framework to support healing with communities in art therapy. Future research: Future research could consider the application of this framework with a community of people who have interest in processing a collective loss, using art, narrative and film to serve as a container of their experiences. Plain-language summary This qualitative arts-based research study explored the experiences of graduate art therapy students (participants) who experienced the unexpected abrupt closure of their university in the middle of their graduate degree. This three-phase study utilized storytelling, art making, watching a film and participating in a focus group as a method to support processing their experience. In all, twenty of twenty-five people engaged in one, two or all three phases of the research, which were: Phase one, collective storytelling; Phase two, art illustrating story; Phase three, watching a film created from data in phase one and two in a focus group. Participants reported that engaging in this process and watching the film helped them to make sense of their experience, value the collective group process, and realize that they were not alone. They identified the art as instrumental in telling the story and several could not decipher their own voice from their peers’ voice in hearing the story reflected back to them. The article provides rich text examples exploring the overarching themes of the film; community; and sharing the story to the public. Subthemes with rich text examples that are discussed include: art in the film; emotions; isolation to connection; original voices; film as container; closure; trauma bond and gratitude. This study produced a framework for processing collective loss and considers the value of the use of film as a therapeutic modality.