boundaries

[Adam Blatner]

Dear All, Although I can't afford to attend the conference, I'll be interested in seeing the program and how the field is re-defining itself. The hinge is the identity of the "therapist," and whether working in contexts with no specifically "therapeutic" contract, no social "sick role" context, will shift the identity of the field.
     I'm not against such a shift, and I think psychodrama needs to face a similar question, because Moreno's vision early on and even during his mainstream career always transcended therapy. He used the term, "sociatry,"--- to heal the social matrix. (It was slightly misleading because the suffix, "-iatry" refers to the medical profession, which is on the whole not the most avant-garde movement in our culture nowadays. Back in the 1930s and 40s, though, it was more radical, and depth psychology didn't hesitate to take on cultural norms---e.g., the writings of Erich Fromm.)
      The prefix, socio- is also a little outdated, because so many issues are becoming recognized as more than merely social (as the term is generally used)--- but rather social in its broadest sense as collective, thus addressing also political, economic, ecological, spiritual, religious, legal, educational, aesthetic fashions, etc. 

      Anyway, I am for the recognition of drama as a tool in the wider culture, as I noted in my 2007 anthology, Interactive & Improvisational Drama ( www.interactiveimprov.com  -- have your local library order a copy!) 

     There are books coming out on sociodrama and related methods such as Theatre of the Oppressed, applications in schools for social and emotional learning, and many other approaches. I've made a similar appeal to the psychodrama community to broaden their identity beyond the mid-late 20th century fashion of "therapy" (e.g., http://www.blatner.com/adam/pdntbk/revisioningpd408.html )...

     So I'm pleased to see this advance. Also it speaks to two papers I've recently posted on my website: 
   1  "SHRINK" OR "EXPANDER": RE-EVALUATING THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST'S ROLE http://www.blatner.com/adam/psyntbk/shrinkexpander.html
    2. "Beyond Psychotherapy"   http://www.blatner.com/adam/psyntbk/beyondpsychotherapy.html  

   Good wishes on this theme!  

Warmly, Adam
----- Original Message ----- 
From: NADT Office 
To: adam at blatner.com 
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 1:07 PM
Subject: NADT Conference - New Proposal Deadline!


The NADT 31st Annual Conference-November 4-7, 2010

Chicago, IL

Pushing the Boundaries: 

Contemplating the Liminal Space in Drama Therapy  



Victor Turner defines the liminal space as a "place where boundaries dissolve a little and we stand there, on the threshold, getting ourselves ready to move across the limits of what we were into what we are to be."



At this year's conference we invite you to explore the ways that we as a field of drama therapy are continuing to push the boundaries in our work.  How are we dissolving the boundaries between our field and other creative arts therapies, other disciplines, other technologies, and other world views? How are the current political and cultural climates transforming our field and work? In what ways does a seeming dissolution of boundaries shed light on new perspectives and understanding? How can we (or should we) measure, research or try to capture such flux and ambiguity? Are there some boundaries that should remain?  And why is the liminal space so powerful?



The possibilities are endless, the boundaries waiting to be expanded are limitless..and we look forward to seeing you there in our mutual exploration.



The new deadline for all submissions is March 15th, 2010.  



For further information on the conference and proposal submissions, please visit http://www.nadt.org





  




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