The "Color Blind" Therapist

Acton, DeAnn

doi:10.1080/07421656.2001.10129749

Cited by 18 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…For example, how impacted are we, by the Eurocentric idea of originary models of human beauty, invested in the Western aesthetic of classical Greek sculpture (Mercer, 1994)? Acton (2001) shares the example of the colour white often symbolising purity and innocence in Western culture, whereas in some parts of India for example, white is often symbolic of death.…”

Section: Art Therapy Training and Practice: A Need For Intersectional Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

White privilege and art therapy in the UK: are we doing the work?

Eastwood

2021

International Journal of Art Therapy

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White supremacy is a societal system that those with White privilege are born in to. Consideration of identity markers such as race, gender and class continue to be neglected in art therapy training and practice in the UK. Examining the social and political dimensions of individual experience can give greater context to trauma and oppression, as well as power as a socially constructed and relational entity, when we consider our clients, our colleagues and ourselves. This article engages in an epistemological discussion of practice exploring the ways in which the art therapy profession in the UK could greater engage in The Work and greater intersectional thinking, in honour of ethical practice and in support of social change. The Work is defined by People of Colour who are activists, educators and practitioners and describes the efforts of real allyship that white people show People of Colour. Theories of behaviour that perpetuate and bolster white supremacy, such as white privilege and white fragility are explored along with decolonising the visual realm and conceptions of therapist-activist work. Plain-language summaryThis article explores the concepts of White privilege and White supremacy currently and historically in the UK and how this may impact art therapy trainings, theories and practice with clients. This includes the way in which art therapists work with the art medium. Suggestions of how White art therapists may engage in The Work are explored. The Work is defined by activists, educators and practitioners who are People of Colour and describes the way in which White people may address their own part in a White supremacist society and how they can truly support People of Colour experiencing racism. Theories of behaviour such as White fragility are explored along with how they may manifest in the work of art therapists in training and practice. Intersectional thinking, which examines identities such as race, class, gender and sexuality, as they are simultaneously experienced, is considered as a self-reflexive tool that may support White art therapists in exploring their White privilege. Other key concepts of intersectional thinking are examined in relation to art therapy practice, such as acknowledging the social and political, social justice and therapist-activist work, constructs of power, and giving voice to marginalised communities.

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Section: Art Therapy Training and Practice: A Need For Intersectional Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

White privilege and art therapy in the UK: are we doing the work?

Eastwood

2021

International Journal of Art Therapy

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“…Acton (2001) warned against being a "color blind" art therapist, ignoring the cultural differences and approaches to healing of different people and their manifestations within art. Hogan (2003) stressed that art therapists can claim to be culturally sensitive but actually dominate the participants by offering an art process or interpretation that is alien and strange to them (Acton, 2001). Conversely, Hocoy (2002) pointed out that assuming that everything is a cultural difference can also create misunderstandings of pictures.…”

Section: Art-based Research Art Therapy and Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hocoy (2002) has argued that art as self-expression is a deeply Western construct, not necessarily suited to people from different cultures. Acton (2001) warned against being a “color blind” art therapist, ignoring the cultural differences and approaches to healing of different people and their manifestations within art. Hogan (2003) stressed that art therapists can claim to be culturally sensitive but actually dominate the participants by offering an art process or interpretation that is alien and strange to them (Acton, 2001).…”

Section: Introduction: Why Use the Arts In Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Researching Creations: Applying Arts-Based Research to Bedouin Women's Drawings Ephrat Huss and Julie Cwikel

Huss¹,

Cwikel²

2005

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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In this article, the author examines the combination of arts-based research and art therapy within Bedouin women"s empowerment groups. The art fulfills a double role within the group of both helping to illuminate the women"s self-defined concerns and goals, and simultaneously enriching and moving these goals forward. This creates a research tool that adheres to the feminist principles of finding new ways to learn from lower income women from a different culture, together with creating a research context that is of direct potential benefit and enrichment for the women. The author, through examples of the use of art within lower income Bedouin women"s groups, examines the theoretical connection between arts-based research and art therapy, two areas that often overlap but whose connection has not been addressed theoretically.

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