S2 Episode 6 (Part B): Courage, Identity and Advocacy: Bridging the Creative Gap

Disclaimer: This episode discusses people’s perspectives of their lived experiences with cancer. This is a sensitive topic, please listen at your discretion.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z3UqU6KPU3rt5-u6kfpMeS7JtDSt05ap/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100719681595597138502&rtpof=true&sd=true

In this episode, Jean chats with Ari to further unpack creative practice in supporting people living with cancer. At its heart, this episode is a discussion grounded in empathy and understanding, focusing on key concepts such as identity, social discourse, connection, and courage. Ari and Jean explore and unpack the concept of resilience, outlining its value and limitations. Ari discusses the importance of identity and its relation to young people, touching on themes of social isolation and societal constructions. Jean and Ari both discuss body image and appearance, with an eye opening discussion that conceptualises the way society constructs people living with cancer, unpacking assumptions and presumptions, while linking this to societal discourses and the overarching concept of how society views young people. Further, Jean and Ari discuss the importance of advocacy in this space, not just for young people and their families, but for the program itself; recognising the importance of lived experience sharing to benefit this space and place a person-led lens on the advocacy itself, while also raising important awareness for creative practice.

References/Resources:

• A critique of resilience - journal article or website

• Chimera Legacy Foundation ⁠https://chimeralegacyfoundation.org.au/⁠

• The Queensland Youth Advisory Group (YAG) ⁠https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/queensland-youth-cancer-service/the-queensland-youth-advisory-group-yag/⁠

• Sony Foundation Australia ⁠https://www.sonyfoundation.org/who-we-are⁠ -

Keywords: Creative practice, empathy, advocacy, living with cancer, lived experience, young people, person-led, social isolation, resilience, social discourse, identity

Music by Boe Toweh

Follow us on:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/criticalconversations4sw/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/CriticalConversations4SW