Museum Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis of Art therapy in Art Museums Art museums can serve as a therapeutic tool, especially for elders. Paring a museum environment with art therapy techniques can help encourage people to better themselves within a comfortable setting. Art therapy generally has the same amount of benefits as any other therapeutic practice. By partnering art observation with writing or discussion, self-awareness is experienced and encouraged. The article at hand researches the effect art therapy has on elders within a museum setting. The author focuses on previous data from de Botton and Armstrong, stating there are “Seven therapeutic functions of viewing art: remembering, hope, sorrow, rebalancing, self-understanding, growth and appreciation.” The intention of the article is to combine therapeutic techniques with group discussions in a museum setting to observe the effect on elders. The first two “therapeutic functions of viewing art” are remembering and hope. As stated by the author, remembering …show more content…
Described as universal feelings of sadness, and the need to give sufficient time or attention to painful emotions. Sorrow can be misunderstood and thus unresolved. Art can be used to further understand or reflect in a gentle way. this function brought up somber feelings and reflection during group discussion. Participants spoke of paintings containing a heaviness or sadness. After sorrow comes rebalance. Rebalance is referred to as “art putting one in a good mood.” For elders engaging in meaningful activities is at the upmost importance to the everyday experience of life. As a result of observing art the elders involved felt validated, enthusiastic and grateful for the cognitive stimulation in such a unique way. additionally, the participants stated having chairs to view art helped “develop a stronger connection with the art work.” The art created a sense of understanding, openness and