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CULTURE MATTERS – in health, illness, life and death. | Haris Agic | TEDxNorrkopingED


26 years ago fourteen-year-old boy found

26 years ago fourteen-year-old boy found himself in a midst of horrors of war in

himself in a midst of horrors of war in

himself in a midst of horrors of war in Bosnia

Bosnia

Bosnia that little boy was I amongst the most

that little boy was I amongst the most

that little boy was I amongst the most striking memories from this time what a

striking memories from this time what a

striking memories from this time what a 56 days I my mother spent in one of many

56 days I my mother spent in one of many

56 days I my mother spent in one of many infamous concentration camps in this

infamous concentration camps in this

infamous concentration camps in this region now imagine the emotional turmoil

region now imagine the emotional turmoil

region now imagine the emotional turmoil of a 14 year old in such circumstances

with Knights came beatings rapes

with Knights came beatings rapes killings so I feared the night we all

killings so I feared the night we all

killings so I feared the night we all did but each night as I would lay my

did but each night as I would lay my

did but each night as I would lay my head down through a blanket covered hard

head down through a blanket covered hard

head down through a blanket covered hard floor to trick fear and get some sleep

floor to trick fear and get some sleep

floor to trick fear and get some sleep I’d hear this angelic voice almost like

I’d hear this angelic voice almost like

I’d hear this angelic voice almost like a whispering singing this soft sweet

a whispering singing this soft sweet

a whispering singing this soft sweet said melody yet comforting that was my

said melody yet comforting that was my

said melody yet comforting that was my mother singing into my ear soothing my

mother singing into my ear soothing my

mother singing into my ear soothing my scared young soul breathing the life

scared young soul breathing the life

scared young soul breathing the life back into my empty lungs since then and

back into my empty lungs since then and

back into my empty lungs since then and to this day music was always at the core

to this day music was always at the core

to this day music was always at the core of everything I am configurating my

of everything I am configurating my

of everything I am configurating my identity breathing life into my lungs I

identity breathing life into my lungs I

identity breathing life into my lungs I know that music saved my life the same

know that music saved my life the same

know that music saved my life the same way it has done many times again ever

way it has done many times again ever

way it has done many times again ever since it still does every day now fast

since it still does every day now fast

since it still does every day now fast forward 26 years this is Nick Cave

forward 26 years this is Nick Cave

forward 26 years this is Nick Cave claimed Australian artist poet

claimed Australian artist poet

claimed Australian artist poet songwriter lecture an iconic figure in

songwriter lecture an iconic figure in

songwriter lecture an iconic figure in alternative rock scene for more than

alternative rock scene for more than

alternative rock scene for more than three decades this photo is from our

three decades this photo is from our

three decades this photo is from our shooting of a documentary called one

shooting of a documentary called one

shooting of a documentary called one more time with feeling so what’s special

more time with feeling so what’s special

more time with feeling so what’s special with this film well it’s the first sign

with this film well it’s the first sign

with this film well it’s the first sign of life that Nick Cave gave to the

of life that Nick Cave gave to the

of life that Nick Cave gave to the public since the tragic death of his

public since the tragic death of his

public since the tragic death of his some who died two years before this only

some who died two years before this only

some who died two years before this only 15 years old

15 years old

15 years old I still remember sitting there at the

I still remember sitting there at the

I still remember sitting there at the movie theater and gasping for breath the

movie theater and gasping for breath the

movie theater and gasping for breath the film was nothing close to anything I’ve

film was nothing close to anything I’ve

film was nothing close to anything I’ve ever seen before a contrasting

ever seen before a contrasting

ever seen before a contrasting combination of that vintage film noir

combination of that vintage film noir

combination of that vintage film noir flavor and modern 3d technology provided

flavor and modern 3d technology provided

flavor and modern 3d technology provided this sense of being stuck between a

this sense of being stuck between a

this sense of being stuck between a forever gone past and an eternally

forever gone past and an eternally

forever gone past and an eternally proximate free future betwixt and

proximate free future betwixt and

proximate free future betwixt and between the two worlds camera angles

between the two worlds camera angles

between the two worlds camera angles provided a voyeuristic peep into the

provided a voyeuristic peep into the

provided a voyeuristic peep into the most private chambers of a hard work

most private chambers of a hard work

most private chambers of a hard work artist so the film was a healing ritual

artist so the film was a healing ritual

artist so the film was a healing ritual his attempt at attending to those sword

his attempt at attending to those sword

his attempt at attending to those sword dimensions of his human self that

dimensions of his human self that

dimensions of his human self that conventional medicine simply couldn’t

conventional medicine simply couldn’t

conventional medicine simply couldn’t the album end of the world tour that

the album end of the world tour that

the album end of the world tour that followed were also part of this run of

followed were also part of this run of

followed were also part of this run of rituals all expressions of personal loss

rituals all expressions of personal loss

rituals all expressions of personal loss and suffering but at the same time

and suffering but at the same time

and suffering but at the same time monuments of the universal humanity

monuments of the universal humanity

monuments of the universal humanity within him now this is a shot short clip

within him now this is a shot short clip

within him now this is a shot short clip of a show from this very tour I shot it

of a show from this very tour I shot it

of a show from this very tour I shot it myself so I apologize for pure video and

myself so I apologize for pure video and

myself so I apologize for pure video and audio quality but I really want to share

audio quality but I really want to share

audio quality but I really want to share this with you because something

this with you because something

this with you because something extraordinary is happening here so let’s

extraordinary is happening here so let’s

extraordinary is happening here so let’s take a look

this is what sociologist Emile Durkheim

this is what sociologist Emile Durkheim has termed collective effervescence

has termed collective effervescence

has termed collective effervescence which refers to when a large number of

which refers to when a large number of

which refers to when a large number of people come together and participate in

people come together and participate in

people come together and participate in same action and simultaneously express

same action and simultaneously express

same action and simultaneously express and communicate the same sentiment this

and communicate the same sentiment this

and communicate the same sentiment this show was at Ericsson Globe venue in

show was at Ericsson Globe venue in

show was at Ericsson Globe venue in Stockholm drawing a crowd maybe eight

Stockholm drawing a crowd maybe eight

Stockholm drawing a crowd maybe eight nine thousand people not all of them

nine thousand people not all of them

nine thousand people not all of them lost their sounds but the deep

lost their sounds but the deep

lost their sounds but the deep sensibility communicated through the

sensibility communicated through the

sensibility communicated through the primal force of art taking place here

primal force of art taking place here

primal force of art taking place here made it possible for all of them to

made it possible for all of them to

made it possible for all of them to relate in some way to recognize their

relate in some way to recognize their

relate in some way to recognize their own losses in each case loss and also in

own losses in each case loss and also in

own losses in each case loss and also in each other’s losses to heal through

each other’s losses to heal through

each other’s losses to heal through mirroring their own pain and suffering

mirroring their own pain and suffering

mirroring their own pain and suffering in each case pain and suffering and also

in each case pain and suffering and also

in each case pain and suffering and also in each other’s pain and suffering the

in each other’s pain and suffering the

in each other’s pain and suffering the shared sentiment was so thick you could

shared sentiment was so thick you could

shared sentiment was so thick you could almost cut through it with a knife

almost cut through it with a knife

almost cut through it with a knife that’s what we medical anthropologists

that’s what we medical anthropologists

that’s what we medical anthropologists have referred to as understanding and

have referred to as understanding and

have referred to as understanding and bonding in human suffering this

bonding in human suffering this

bonding in human suffering this unmistakable gut feeling of mutual

unmistakable gut feeling of mutual

unmistakable gut feeling of mutual recognition that provides comfort and

recognition that provides comfort and

recognition that provides comfort and relief not by running away from the pain

relief not by running away from the pain

relief not by running away from the pain but by social act of acknowledging it

but by social act of acknowledging it

but by social act of acknowledging it this is where our private malady is

this is where our private malady is

this is where our private malady is transformed into a collective concern

transformed into a collective concern

transformed into a collective concern that night the crowd wept together as

that night the crowd wept together as

that night the crowd wept together as one about the loss pain and suffering

one about the loss pain and suffering

one about the loss pain and suffering but these people also celebrated their

but these people also celebrated their

but these people also celebrated their humanity gorging in art enhanced mutual

humanity gorging in art enhanced mutual

humanity gorging in art enhanced mutual recognition that gave strength and

recognition that gave strength and

recognition that gave strength and restored sense of meaning I don’t know

restored sense of meaning I don’t know

restored sense of meaning I don’t know if you could notice but there is no

if you could notice but there is no

if you could notice but there is no stage barrier which is always at place

stage barrier which is always at place

stage barrier which is always at place in large rock shows there’s literally

in large rock shows there’s literally

in large rock shows there’s literally nothing separating Kay from the from the

nothing separating Kay from the from the

nothing separating Kay from the from the audience and interesting interesting

audience and interesting interesting

audience and interesting interesting thing is that he’s really trying to take

thing is that he’s really trying to take

thing is that he’s really trying to take make the most out of this boundlessness

make the most out of this boundlessness

make the most out of this boundlessness this limitlessness so so he leans onto

this limitlessness so so he leans onto

this limitlessness so so he leans onto the stretched out arms and hands and

the stretched out arms and hands and

the stretched out arms and hands and allows them to touch and hold him he

allows them to touch and hold him he

allows them to touch and hold him he disappears into the sea of crowds and

disappears into the sea of crowds and

disappears into the sea of crowds and just to come back a few seconds later or

just to come back a few seconds later or

just to come back a few seconds later or to appear at the other side of the venue

to appear at the other side of the venue

to appear at the other side of the venue but see what’s he doing there well it

but see what’s he doing there well it

but see what’s he doing there well it seemed to me that he was persistently

seemed to me that he was persistently

seemed to me that he was persistently tearing down anything that might hinder

tearing down anything that might hinder

tearing down anything that might hinder the mutual understanding and bonding

the mutual understanding and bonding

the mutual understanding and bonding this experience resembled a familiar

this experience resembled a familiar

this experience resembled a familiar feeling that had nearly decade ago when

feeling that had nearly decade ago when

feeling that had nearly decade ago when I did a field work as a medical

I did a field work as a medical

I did a field work as a medical anthropologist at a hospital with people

anthropologist at a hospital with people

anthropologist at a hospital with people suffering from life-threatening heart

suffering from life-threatening heart

suffering from life-threatening heart conditions and their life narrative kind

conditions and their life narrative kind

conditions and their life narrative kind of looked the same as mine I am I was

of looked the same as mine I am I was

of looked the same as mine I am I was torn by war day was torn by a condition

torn by war day was torn by a condition

torn by war day was torn by a condition a difficult heart condition there is a

a difficult heart condition there is a

a difficult heart condition there is a tragic moment happening a disruption in

tragic moment happening a disruption in

tragic moment happening a disruption in a life narrative that was quite similar

a life narrative that was quite similar

a life narrative that was quite similar when it it also is something that really

when it it also is something that really

when it it also is something that really surfaces in e caves

surfaces in e caves

surfaces in e caves art this this tragic loss is at the core

art this this tragic loss is at the core

art this this tragic loss is at the core of what we are viewing here I could

of what we are viewing here I could

of what we are viewing here I could identify with Nick caves loss and was

identify with Nick caves loss and was

identify with Nick caves loss and was thereby also able to engage in this

thereby also able to engage in this

thereby also able to engage in this collective understanding and bonding

collective understanding and bonding

collective understanding and bonding with the crowd at the show what we all

with the crowd at the show what we all

with the crowd at the show what we all shared was this crisis brought by

shared was this crisis brought by

shared was this crisis brought by disruption of a life narrative due to

disruption of a life narrative due to

disruption of a life narrative due to something bad we were all butterflies

something bad we were all butterflies

something bad we were all butterflies caught in a diving bell neither here nor

caught in a diving bell neither here nor

caught in a diving bell neither here nor there with one life forever gone and

there with one life forever gone and

there with one life forever gone and other one forever out of reach rewind

other one forever out of reach rewind

other one forever out of reach rewind back some 40,000 years and get to

back some 40,000 years and get to

back some 40,000 years and get to another kind of cave the earliest known

another kind of cave the earliest known

another kind of cave the earliest known examples of art being used to simply

examples of art being used to simply

examples of art being used to simply amplify the senses and awareness are the

amplify the senses and awareness are the

amplify the senses and awareness are the wall paintings of Ice Age cave dwellers

wall paintings of Ice Age cave dwellers

wall paintings of Ice Age cave dwellers since its prehistoric use art has

since its prehistoric use art has

since its prehistoric use art has remained both an expression but also a

remained both an expression but also a

remained both an expression but also a key nutrient of human culture every

key nutrient of human culture every

key nutrient of human culture every human society has used arts to express

human society has used arts to express

human society has used arts to express its ideas and to make sense of the world

its ideas and to make sense of the world

its ideas and to make sense of the world art educates us inspires us art

art educates us inspires us art

art educates us inspires us art beautifies us and it is also the thing

beautifies us and it is also the thing

beautifies us and it is also the thing that separates us from other earthly

that separates us from other earthly

that separates us from other earthly creatures during the Renaissance

creatures during the Renaissance

creatures during the Renaissance paintings were understood to have

paintings were understood to have

paintings were understood to have tense effects on health and emotional

tense effects on health and emotional

tense effects on health and emotional balance of viewers even their children

balance of viewers even their children

balance of viewers even their children and to make them behave properly in

and to make them behave properly in

and to make them behave properly in eighteen eight century BC and back to

eighteen eight century BC and back to

eighteen eight century BC and back to music we can read about healing

music we can read about healing

music we can read about healing incantations already in the Odyssey

incantations already in the Odyssey

incantations already in the Odyssey while on a hunting expedition in his

while on a hunting expedition in his

while on a hunting expedition in his youth Odysseus was gored by a wild boar

youth Odysseus was gored by a wild boar

youth Odysseus was gored by a wild boar which left the scar on his on his tie

which left the scar on his on his tie

which left the scar on his on his tie his companions healed his wound and

his companions healed his wound and

his companions healed his wound and stopped his bleeding with an incantation

stopped his bleeding with an incantation

stopped his bleeding with an incantation a chant a song all known culture

a chant a song all known culture

a chant a song all known culture cultures have used and enjoyed music

cultures have used and enjoyed music

cultures have used and enjoyed music music therapeutic characteristics were

music therapeutic characteristics were

music therapeutic characteristics were not always mentioned it was always there

not always mentioned it was always there

not always mentioned it was always there in 5th century Athens Pythagoras used to

in 5th century Athens Pythagoras used to

in 5th century Athens Pythagoras used to play and sing paeans

play and sing paeans

play and sing paeans which are joyous songs to his disciples

which are joyous songs to his disciples

which are joyous songs to his disciples to bring them in a serene mode Plato’s

to bring them in a serene mode Plato’s

to bring them in a serene mode Plato’s pupils an opport is used instrumental

pupils an opport is used instrumental

pupils an opport is used instrumental music to cure hysterics but however

music to cure hysterics but however

music to cure hysterics but however interesting these historic examples

interesting these historic examples

interesting these historic examples after often anecdotal and give no valid

after often anecdotal and give no valid

after often anecdotal and give no valid proof of the therapeutic feature of Arts

proof of the therapeutic feature of Arts

proof of the therapeutic feature of Arts so how about that evidence of Arts worth

so how about that evidence of Arts worth

so how about that evidence of Arts worth I’d like to mention a recent report that

I’d like to mention a recent report that

I’d like to mention a recent report that had caught my eye all-party

had caught my eye all-party

had caught my eye all-party parliamentary group on arts health and

parliamentary group on arts health and

parliamentary group on arts health and well-being in UK launched this report

well-being in UK launched this report

well-being in UK launched this report last year it provides an overview and

last year it provides an overview and

last year it provides an overview and includes descriptions of a wide range of

includes descriptions of a wide range of

includes descriptions of a wide range of artistic and creative activities in

artistic and creative activities in

artistic and creative activities in health care as well as in social care

health care as well as in social care

health care as well as in social care and puts together evidence for the

and puts together evidence for the

and puts together evidence for the contribution that arts can make to

contribution that arts can make to

contribution that arts can make to people’s lives our flipped for instance

people’s lives our flipped for instance

people’s lives our flipped for instance is an arts and prescription initiative

is an arts and prescription initiative

is an arts and prescription initiative where patients get to take part in

where patients get to take part in

where patients get to take part in activities led by professional artists

activities led by professional artists

activities led by professional artists in poetry comics painting and more at

in poetry comics painting and more at

in poetry comics painting and more at the six months of working with an artist

the six months of working with an artist

the six months of working with an artist people had 37% less demand for GP

people had 37% less demand for GP

people had 37% less demand for GP appointments and their need for hospital

appointments and their need for hospital

appointments and their need for hospital admissions dropped with 27% which gave a

admissions dropped with 27% which gave a

admissions dropped with 27% which gave a net saving of 216 pounds per patient for

net saving of 216 pounds per patient for

net saving of 216 pounds per patient for national health services

national health services

national health services some tell me your working days are lost

some tell me your working days are lost

some tell me your working days are lost to sick leave among health workers

to sick leave among health workers

to sick leave among health workers costing 2.4 billion pounds a year

costing 2.4 billion pounds a year

costing 2.4 billion pounds a year inclusion of arts information and

inclusion of arts information and

inclusion of arts information and professional development of health care

professional development of health care

professional development of health care workers improves their own well health

workers improves their own well health

workers improves their own well health and well-being and also through that

and well-being and also through that

and well-being and also through that health and well-being of their patients

health and well-being of their patients

health and well-being of their patients but your report also makes another

but your report also makes another

but your report also makes another important point and it’s the value of

important point and it’s the value of

important point and it’s the value of arts must not be reduced to being cheap

arts must not be reduced to being cheap

arts must not be reduced to being cheap this is very important so it states when

this is very important so it states when

this is very important so it states when considering the value of Arts in health

considering the value of Arts in health

considering the value of Arts in health and well-being it should be borne in

and well-being it should be borne in

and well-being it should be borne in mind the successful participatory act

mind the successful participatory act

mind the successful participatory act projects are of much greater value to

projects are of much greater value to

projects are of much greater value to the individuals that take part than the

the individuals that take part than the

the individuals that take part than the economic benefits they may represent for

economic benefits they may represent for

economic benefits they may represent for health or other agencies in other words

health or other agencies in other words

health or other agencies in other words the difference that arts participation

the difference that arts participation

the difference that arts participation makes to people’s lives often transcends

makes to people’s lives often transcends

makes to people’s lives often transcends economic value so instead of talking

economic value so instead of talking

economic value so instead of talking about the value of arts we should be

about the value of arts we should be

about the value of arts we should be talking about the impact of for words

talking about the impact of for words

talking about the impact of for words which we are doing to today engaging

which we are doing to today engaging

which we are doing to today engaging with arts enable us to get in touch with

with arts enable us to get in touch with

with arts enable us to get in touch with our existential cells enhance our own

our existential cells enhance our own

our existential cells enhance our own subjectivity ensure sense of dignity and

subjectivity ensure sense of dignity and

subjectivity ensure sense of dignity and self-worth

self-worth

self-worth we are advance of modern neuro imaging

we are advance of modern neuro imaging

we are advance of modern neuro imaging techniques during the past decades we

techniques during the past decades we

techniques during the past decades we are now beginning to better understand

are now beginning to better understand

are now beginning to better understand what goes on in the brain when we listen

what goes on in the brain when we listen

what goes on in the brain when we listen and play music and how the structure and

and play music and how the structure and

and play music and how the structure and function of the brain can change as a

function of the brain can change as a

function of the brain can change as a result of musical training we didn’t

result of musical training we didn’t

result of musical training we didn’t know this before now we know for sure in

know this before now we know for sure in

know this before now we know for sure in a recent study at Alba University in

a recent study at Alba University in

a recent study at Alba University in Denmark more than 14,000 people

Denmark more than 14,000 people

Denmark more than 14,000 people participated and got to answer questions

participated and got to answer questions

participated and got to answer questions about the health and their music habits

about the health and their music habits

about the health and their music habits the researchers saw a clear pattern

the researchers saw a clear pattern

the researchers saw a clear pattern between good health and attendance at

between good health and attendance at

between good health and attendance at live music shows now I met many skeptics

live music shows now I met many skeptics

live music shows now I met many skeptics saying the impact of arts and culture on

saying the impact of arts and culture on

saying the impact of arts and culture on our health and well-being

our health and well-being

our health and well-being is an unexplored field hard to measure

is an unexplored field hard to measure

is an unexplored field hard to measure and that there’s just not enough

and that there’s just not enough

and that there’s just not enough evidence to support this theory the fact

evidence to support this theory the fact

evidence to support this theory the fact is that there is an abundance of

is that there is an abundance of

is that there is an abundance of scientific evidence and it’s growing as

scientific evidence and it’s growing as

scientific evidence and it’s growing as with

with

with continuously for those generally

continuously for those generally

continuously for those generally interested in impact of arts and culture

interested in impact of arts and culture

interested in impact of arts and culture on our health it’s easily found the

on our health it’s easily found the

on our health it’s easily found the skeptics skeptics are skeptics because

skeptics skeptics are skeptics because

skeptics skeptics are skeptics because they’ve been trained to look at things

they’ve been trained to look at things

they’ve been trained to look at things differently and not measurable kind of

differently and not measurable kind of

differently and not measurable kind of knowledge is also considered a threat to

knowledge is also considered a threat to

knowledge is also considered a threat to a good knowledge but we now know that

a good knowledge but we now know that

a good knowledge but we now know that medical humanities have a lot to bring

medical humanities have a lot to bring

medical humanities have a lot to bring to table where it concerns relevance of

to table where it concerns relevance of

to table where it concerns relevance of arts and culture to health issues all

arts and culture to health issues all

arts and culture to health issues all art forms be it literature performing or

art forms be it literature performing or

art forms be it literature performing or visual arts have this innate ability to

visual arts have this innate ability to

visual arts have this innate ability to communicate that is to speak off and to

communicate that is to speak off and to

communicate that is to speak off and to speak to those existential elements of

speak to those existential elements of

speak to those existential elements of being human it is in and through arts

being human it is in and through arts

being human it is in and through arts that we can give form and substance to

that we can give form and substance to

that we can give form and substance to our emotional lives and complex thoughts

our emotional lives and complex thoughts

our emotional lives and complex thoughts in ways compared to which any other

in ways compared to which any other

in ways compared to which any other documentation or account comes across as

documentation or account comes across as

documentation or account comes across as rather feeble when we come together

rather feeble when we come together

rather feeble when we come together across sectors across scientific

across sectors across scientific

across sectors across scientific disciplines across professions this is

disciplines across professions this is

disciplines across professions this is also when we will be breaking new ground

also when we will be breaking new ground

also when we will be breaking new ground for the ways in which we recognize and

for the ways in which we recognize and

for the ways in which we recognize and treat people not only as physical and

treat people not only as physical and

treat people not only as physical and biological bodies but also as thinking

biological bodies but also as thinking

biological bodies but also as thinking and feeling subjects and we are already

and feeling subjects and we are already

and feeling subjects and we are already halfway there right on the verge of the

halfway there right on the verge of the

halfway there right on the verge of the new paradigm thank you

you

you [Music]

”

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