The Art of History - Sources and Interpretation in Historiography
Examine the relevance of history in understanding past events through sources, the challenges of objectivity, and the distinction between history and natural sciences. Explore the complexities in studying historical patterns and causal chains.
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Vox Liminis A presentation by me Jack MacMillan
What is Vox Liminis Vox Liminis Is an arts organisation, established in 2013. They work with individuals who have an experience of the criminal justice system and work with music, podcasts, writing, visual art, photography and film They say of themselves: we equip people with the creative tools to express themselves. Whether it s through writing songs in prison or making films, or developing apps, we help individuals to explore their experience of criminal justice, and ask them how justice might be reimagined. We help people who might have radically different life experience to engage in creative conversations. People share their insights, and form connections at the thresholds , turning in-between places into common ground. The ability of the arts to help us find that common ground is crucial to creating a fairer, safer future for Scotland; one that is based on understanding, not ignorance; acceptance, not prejudice Together we make music and art that opens up questions around: How people s lives are affected by the criminal justice system in Scotland The ways in which people can make more positive futures for themselves and for their families The roles we can all play in building a fairer society The arts can bring us together, and help us to communicate things that are difficult to say. These creative conversations can change things for the better.
IN-TUNE One of Vox Liminis project s is called In-Tune, a music based program that seeks to connect families that have been separated by prison. Here is their description of the project When a parent is sent to prison, it can be said that the family serves a sentence of their own . The parent at home may be left to look after the family on their own; they might need to tell the children stories about why mum or dad is now a road trip away. Cut off from their loved ones, the imprisoned parent isn t able to do the school run, play with their child, or help with the homework all the little things that bring a family closer together. With In Tune, we create a space within prison where parents can be parents, and children can be children, despite this big disruption to family life. We try to get the balance right in each session, giving families the space to catch up, but also providing a range of different musical activities they can take ownership of and enjoy together. Our approach helps bring families closer together, where the focus is on what they can make as a group, not where they find themselves. One Dad said; This has helped me get properly close to J as well. Obviously I see him in other visits but I can t just play with him the way I can here. At the start I wasn t keen to get up out my seat, it took me about four weeks before I d properly stand up and get involved, but when I did I was so angry at myself for not getting fully involved from week one. But it s his energy and enthusiasm that s helped me do that as much as anything else.
It might seem small on the surface, but In Tune helps those in prison to play a positive role in their young child s development, supporting families to connect and communicate in new ways, all the while strengthening vital relationships as we make a glorious racket together. I would like us all to listen to one of the songs made as part of In-Tune This song was written during an In Tune song-writing session in HMP Polmont in December 2016. part of the workshop. https://www.voxliminis.co.uk/projects/in-tune/media/?media=929
I think that what stands out to me most about this project is the attempt to create a connection within families. This is something that feels important after our recent research into the effect that prison has on family dynamics and how that can adversely affect the development of young people who are caught up within that system, as well as affect the rates of recidivism. I think that In-tune does well to create a space for families to interact with each other. I think that the open space works as a great disruption of a system that can often create barriers for important family contact.
DISTANT VOICES Another vox liminis project is called Distant Voices: Distant Voices is a project that explores crime, punishment and reintegration through songwriting and other forms of creative expression. We pair some of Scotland s best songwriters with people who ve experienced the criminal justice system from lots of different angles. This has included people in prison, social workers, probation officers, prison officers and governors, as well as those affected by an experience of crime, or participants in communities and families who receive people coming home. Through the project, hundreds of songs have been written which tell vivid stories about the complexities of living through and coming home after punishment.We bring these stories to a wider audience through performing, recording and releasing the songs, recognising the power of music to connect us and to spark (sometimes complicated) conversations. We also try to capture the learning that comes out of this process of creating and sharing. We hope this learning will help to make positive changes in the Criminal Justice System. The project began as a collaboration between Vox Liminis and the SCCJR, and has extended to now include three Scottish universities.
Distant Voices - Oblivion and Beyond EP This EP was created as part of the Distant Voices project: Vox Liminis has been working with local partners in the Highland area. We are working with Highland Alcohol and Drug Partnership and local partners to support community approaches to reducing alcohol and drug related harm including by engaging the local public in conversations about recovery and reintegration, to better understand the complexities of the recovery journey, decrease stigma and support reintegration. This project stuck out to me as I am originally from the Highlands and have witnessed the adverse effects of alcohol and drug related harm to individuals and to the community as a whole. I want to share another song that was made as part of this EP, it is the last track and it is called White Horses. https://www.voxliminis.co.uk/projects/distant-voices/media/?media=5768
There are two other projects that Vox Liminis run that I don't have time to discuss in detail. KIN- arts collective of 14-25 year olds who have all lived through having a parent or sibling in prison. Turning stigma into solidarity, they have developed a distinct artistic voice. UNBOUND - Which welcomes people who ve been in prison and prisoners on home-leave to academics, social workers, criminal justice professionals and musicians to engage in a weekly creative space and community meal. I have provided the links for these projects here. https://www.voxliminis.co.uk/projects/kin/ https://www.voxliminis.co.uk/projects/unbound/
Conclusion Talking of a music session, one participant said Everyone coming together, it s definitely an eye-opener. Can see everyone is getting a good release from writing and learning about music in general which helps make a stronger community. We all sort of relate to each other through that. It s all good. It s definitely something I can take outwith this environment; take it back into everyday society. If it can be done between 4 walls, it can be done in the wider world Since researching the topic of criminal justice, we have learned the importance of the role that strengthening community and family contact play into reintegration and in recidivism. This can be seen at the heart of each of the Vox Liminis projects which I think are excellent examples of how artist working within a prison context can achieve positive change
