Final Thoughts

So, a bit of time and processing does the mind good. This fall was such an intense and jam packed event, that it is only now that I feel a real clarity. So, in the spirit of the New Year, I will reflect upon what I learned from this class.
1. Perhaps it is my own philosophical nature or the nature of my dissertation research (studying the impact of drawing on the brain using EEG measures) but I did not feel there were direct applications to my research regarding sharing content or new media forums related to this class. I did find a great deal of literature related to my dissertation applicable to new media issues, (particularly in regards to what it means to connect with others, and the impact of visual stimuli on the brain). The brain is a constantly evolving organ, and I think we are in a transitional period that we have yet to fully understand or grasp. I find it similar to not noticing a person gaining weight because you see them everyday; we don't know how different we are yet, because the change is happening daily and organically before our very eyes. But, just think about how plugged in we are..sounds, words, and behaviors are part of our daily lives that did not exist five years ago. We live our lives as if this amazing revolution is not happening before our eyes, but it is! To not reflect on this, to not ask what it means to be human today, is to have lived one of the most radical shifts in human history and to not reflect or bat an eye. Amazing!
2. I have been very ambivalent about the hands on analysis of these new media technologies. On one hand I would not have created this blog or my website for this class, on the other I have felt that the time given to these analysis would have been more appropriate spent on the ethical issues, social issues, and psychological/spiritual impact that new media entails. These tools may be irrelevant any day now, but the underlying questions have only just begun. Upon review of my work, my focus and approach to this class clearly reflects this bias. Having said that, I have been able to incorporate new media into my materials and media class that I teach, and used these concepts to stimulate some much needed new discssions in regards to what constitutes an art material and the role of art therapy in response to technologies. I was clear in my message that art therapy will not benefit from a stance as a last gasp of hands on organic creative art approaches..a kind of antidote to a new media world...which leads to...
3. convergence culture is a creative culture. This is quite a fascinating discovery to me. I showed the Jenkins video to my students and discussed his ideas at a College workshop on the impact of internet and computers. This class not only led to exciting discussions, but it helped make me look very smart (thanks to you for that!)
4. Finally, this class laid the format for what I hope will be the eventual publication on the ethical implications for new media for therapists. I sent this document to Lisa, and I look forward to your feedback and comments.
So in summary, I feel this class has impacted me more as a clinician than a researcher, but these parts of my identity are intertwined. I expect that I will be stewing over and applying what I have learned for a long time. The expressive therapies need to be pulled on board to the new media realities, even if we hop on kicking and screaming and pulling our hair out!