Trauma Can Be Rewritten: The Use of Art to Reimagine our Past and Grant Us New Life
May 1, 2025
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Viviane Silvera, an award-winning artist and filmmaker, intertwines art and neuroscience to explore trauma and memory. She discusses her animated film 'See Memory,' which portrays the journey of healing from traumatic pasts. The conversation unpacks how opposing viewpoints reshape our understanding of trauma and the brain's storage of memories. Silvera emphasizes the therapeutic powers of art, the malleability of memories, and how confronting uncomfortable truths can foster personal growth and transform identities.
Viviane Silvera's film 'See Memory' explores the malleability of traumatic memories and how artistic expression can aid in healing.
The connection between memory and personal identity is vital, as memories shape our narratives and sense of self.
Attention significantly impacts memory processes, allowing individuals to reshape their emotional responses through conscious engagement with their past.
Deep dives
The Nature of Memory Exploration
The podcast discusses the multifaceted nature of memory, focusing on its malleability and unpredictability as explored in Vivian Silvera's film 'See Memory'. Memory is described as both a tool for identity and a source of healing, while also being influenced by imagination. Silvera's personal journey with her memories, particularly those related to her childhood, highlights the varying degrees of accessibility and clarity that memories can possess. This exploration emphasizes the connection between memory, art, and science, to bridge the gaps between past experiences and current understanding.
Memory's Role in Identity and Meaning
The conversation delves into the intrinsic link between memory and personal identity, emphasizing that without memory, individuals struggle to form a coherent sense of self. The podcast reflects on how we derive meaning from our memories and how memories shape our narratives. With references to Eric Kandel's insights on memory, the notion is presented that memory acts as a 'glue' binding our mental life, fundamentally impacting how we interpret experiences. The discussion notes that childhood memories often have a different resonance due to the cultural context and technological advancements in documenting them.
Intervention and Agency in Memory Formation
Vivian Silvera shares insights from her research indicating that individuals have the ability to intervene in their own memory processes. The podcast explains that attention plays a crucial role in memory retention and that the act of focusing on certain aspects can influence how memories are formed and recalled. An example used is the practice of consciously cultivating positive associations during challenging times, illustrating how it's possible to reshape one’s memory landscape. This active engagement with memory emphasizes that people can influence their relationship with past experiences, thereby transforming emotional responses.
The Complexity of Traumatic Memories
The podcast addresses the intricate nature of traumatic memories, as highlighted by scientific insights which indicate that these memories are stored differently than regular sad memories. It highlights how the retrieval of traumatic memories might trigger dissociative responses in individuals, which complicates their healing process. The discussion includes therapeutic concepts like EMDR, which aim to help individuals process and integrate these traumatic experiences by reducing physiological responses associated with them. By presenting trauma as a hurdle to be understood rather than a permanent state, it underscores the importance of therapy in facilitating recovery.
Artistic Pursuits and Their Emotional Depth
The dialogue touches on the role of artistic expression in understanding and articulating memories, particularly through the medium of film as a narrative device. Vivian discusses how the process of creating art fosters a unique interplay between conscious and unconscious mind, allowing for a deeper engagement with personal histories. The podcast also reflects on the impact of societal expectations on artistic endeavors, with questions surrounding the balance between commercial success and personal fulfillment. This segment highlights the necessity of nurturing one’s creative passions to combat feelings of disconnection and negativity, ultimately fostering a richer understanding of self.
Viviane Silvera animated 30,000 of her hand-painted images to explore how traumatic memories are formed, stored, and ultimately transformed. Her animated documentary, SEE MEMORY, traces the intimate story of a young woman caught between past and present; her film captures the fragmented texture of trauma and the healing that becomes possible when painful memories are witnessed. In our conversation with Viviane, we explore her process of recovering lost memories and how opposing perspectives can constellate new attitudes toward trauma. We discuss cutting-edge findings on the way the brain stores and changes memory and reveal the intersection of art, science, and psyche.
Viviane Silvera is an award-winning artist and filmmaker whose work blends painting, animation, and neuroscience to illuminate memory, trauma, and the unconscious. She holds a dual B.S. in Psychology and Political Science from Tufts University and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art.
