Holiday in a Studio Apartment

Quiet in Pori today. It seems nearly all businesses close down from Christmas Eve through December 26th, in observance of the holiday. At first, the silence was unnerving. But then, I found it meditative, and mentally relieving. I'm alone today on Christmas in Finland. Not by choice, but by necessity, to recover from bronchitis. I don't really feel lonely. Through connecting with friends and family on phone, email, and Skype, listening to classic carols, and lighting holiday candles, I've created a cozy, festive atmosphere in my own little apartment. My heart is with my loved ones – and anticipating a visit from Tommy, who arrives in Finland tomorrow evening. He's flying in all the way from Florida!

(The photo above taken in front of a florist's display window in Pori.)

Thoughts on Healing

Recently, my new friend Frederica (Freddie) sent me an inspiring article entitled, "Healing Through the World's Hurts" by psychotherapist Miriam Greenspan. Here are some excerpts that particularly resonate with me:

"It is not the dark emotions themselves that hurt us but our fear of them, our belief that they are negative, and our inability to bear them mindfully. There are no negative emotions, only human emotions. But there are negative attitudes toward emotions, and negative consequences of emotions we cannot tolerate."

"'There is nothing so whole as a broken heart,' goes one saying. The world breaks our hearts wide open - and it is the openness that makes us whole. We cannot and should not expect to be completely cured of grief, fear, and despair in a broken-hearted world. We learn to accept suffering and vulnerability as a normal part of life, and how to use our suffering for the good. Because we are vulnerable, life hurts. We are not here to be free of pain. We are here to have our hearts broken by life, and to transform our pain into love."

(I took the photo above in Pori, after snowfall a few weeks ago.)

A New Course

After a semester of being a full-time student, I am now returning to the role of professor (along with my own doctoral studies). I was wary about the idea at first, but the university has given me the freedom to devise my own course whose content coincides with my doctoral research. So it turns out to be quite an interesting opportunity! I'm looking forward to working the the MA students here in the departments of Art and Media and Visual Culture. I've already met several, including Riikka, Helena, Henrikka, Hanna, Antti, Leena, and others. They seem enthusiastic about their own creative work, and excited about life in general.

Below is a description of the course I will teach in the spring of 2009:

How to Tickle Your Audience: The Use of Humor in Art and Advertising
In this course, students will investigate the use of humor as a communication strategy in art and advertising. The course will include an overview of the work of contemporary artists and media organizations whose work employs the use of humor, in order to sell products or to address controversial subject matter. The cultural context of humor and satire will be considered in this discussion. In addition to participating in theoretical discussion, students will develop a web site project based on the thematic content of the course.

Memories of a Snowstorm

A few weeks ago, fierce winds blew blankets of snow across Finland. In the midst of the storm, I happened to be en route (on foot) to a youth hostel in Helsinki. I was in town for a writing class at the main campus of the University of Art and Design. Apparently, I failed to notice the snowstorm forecast before embarking on my trip. Lugging my sturdy little Samsonite laptop case through the the drifts of snow, I was foolishly determined to arrive at my destination without resorting to hopping on a tram or hailing a cab. At one point, I was nearly thrust into the street by gale force winds! (Actually, it was quite exciting for a few seconds.) After what seemed like an eternity, I could finally see the glimmering lights of the hostel in the distance. A few minutes later, with a sigh of relief, I entered the warm, welcoming lobby of the youth hostel. These photos above were taken in Pori, in the tranquil beauty after the storm had passed.

Good News on the Academic Front

I was recently notified that my paper proposal for an upcoming academic conference has been accepted! The event will be held in February of 2009 at the The University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The conference is entitled, "First International Conference on Humour and Satire."
For more information about the conference, see: http://www.jyu.fi/hum/laitokset/taiku/uutiset/humour_call

At the event, I will be conducting a lecture and discussion entitled, "Art, Humor, and Advertising as a Tool for Political Dialogue”. The thematic content of the this lecture coincides with my dissertation research that I'm conducting at the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Below is the proposal I that I submitted to the conference.


"Art, Humor, and Advertising as a Tool for Political Dialogue” by Lisa Erdman
This multidisciplinary research explores the use of conceptual art in the form of satirical medical advertising as a tool to generate public dialogue in Finland, regarding political and social issues on a local and global level. One of my objectives in this work is to present a better understanding of the role that humor and advertising can play in contemporary culture, beyond the promotion of commercial products and services. In this paper, I will argue that conceptual art, placed within the context of humorous medical advertising, not only serves as an act of personal expression, but, under certain conditions, can generate thought and dialogue that has the potential for social change. My research will involve both theoretical and art-based methods of investigation surrounding this thesis.

Thematically, the paper will examine the use of satire and humor as a tool in contemporary art, to address controversial subject matter. The work of Adbusters, Irmeli Huhtala, Justine Cooper, and The Yes Men and will be examined within this context. The the paper will also include a look at the use of humor in medical advertising as a marketing strategy. Related theoretical writings of Simon Critchley and Henri Bergson be discussed, in terms of humor and laughter as a means of changing a given situation, and defamilarizing the familiar.

I will discuss the role of of satirical humor in my upcoming public art project, and how it may be used to spark public dialogue in this scenario. The content of the public art project will be presented as an advertisement campaign for a series of several fictitious, over-the-counter medications that offer simple treatments for complex conditions involving: global climate change, financial debt, and racial politics, among other ‘ills’. For example, one fictitious medication that I’ve created for the project, a pill called Ethnivox, may be used to treat symptoms of racial discrimination or xenophobia. The medical advertisements will take the form of poster ads, brochures, websites and mock pills bottles. In order to simulate the aesthetic of a pharmacy, the fictitious ads will be placed within a vacant window storefront display in Pori, Finland. The art project will be on display in spring of 2011, for a time period of two weeks.

For its audience, satirical humor can create a cathartic space; a space that offers people the opportunity to suspend one’s disbelief, worries, responsibilities, and, if only for a moment, to laugh – and to think. In this context, I believe that humor, particularly satirical humor, has the potential to disarm the audience and allow people to see the many truths as well as hidden agendas surrounding an issue. This brand of humor can break the ice, so to speak, and allow for new perspectives to surface. For this reason, I am interested in investigating the use of satirical humor as an ingredient in the creation of dialogical public art.

Copyright © 2008 Lisa Erdman.

A Visit from the Flu Virus

I'm sick with the flu, here in my little apartment. I try to think of it as a visitor who wants to stay for a weekend visit, or maybe longer. Okay, so maybe that's not a great analogy. But at least it's something.

It started at the end of the Finnish language class on Tuesday night, with sudden onset of weakness, muscle ache and fever. I know that I'm supposed to rest, but it's difficult when I have pile of work to do, and a holiday to-do list! However, early last night my body told me in its own way (by making nearly every muscle ache), that I need to set my priorities straight and just rest . At least I can read in bed!

Social Life?

At this point, you might be thinking to yourself..."So, what does Lisa really do for fun? Is it all just coursework, philosophizing, and taking quiet walks by herself?"

Yes, I do actually socialize. In the four months that I've lived in Finland, I've met many interesting people. Some of them I've encountered through the university, through my work with children, and others I've met at opening receptions at art galleries. I've even experienced a wild night at a Finnish dance club! Sorry, no photos available from that event.

From top to bottom: 1) Coffee and tea with Nina and her son Jesse 2) at a German restaurant with Annu, Ana, Ana's boyfriend Anthony and myself 3) Ana and I talking in front of a painting 4) opening reception for painter Niko Palokankaan at Poriginal Galleria; and 4) hanging out with Nina's sons Mark, Miko and Jesse!

Holiday Things in Finland

Okay. I must say that I adore the Finnish approach to holiday decor: intricately hand-crafted items, candles, white lights, minimalist Christmas trees, and little Santas made out of felt and cotton. Here are some photo highlights from evening strolls I've taken during the past couple of weeks.

Doctoral Courses: Fall Semester

Below is a list of the courses I've been participating in this fall, in the doctoral program of Art and Media. All courses are offered by the University of Art and Design Helsinki (TaiK), except for Suomi I, which I attend through the local adult education center. Click on the professor's name to read more about his/her research.

Academic Writing – Prof. Paul Graves
Philosophy of Science – Prof. Taina Rajanti
(Dis)syncronies of Vision and Touch – Prof. Mika Elo
Doctoral Seminar – Prof. Harri Laakso
Finnish Language: Suomi I –Prof. Katri Henriksson-Männistö

For more information about the School of Art and Media at TaiK, see the following links:
Program Overview
Competence Areas
Dissertation Projects: Doctoral Students