Fine Lines: cosmetic advertising and the perception of ageing beauty

Fine Lines is a study investigating the language used in adverts for female facial cosmetics (excluding makeup) in UK Vogue magazine. The study queries whether this has been affected by the introduction and rise in popularity of minimally invasive aesthetic procedures to alleviate the signs of facial ageing. The contemporary cultural landscape is explored: this includes the ubiquitous nature of advertising as well as the growth of the skincare market. Emergent thematic analysis of selected advertisements showed a change in the language used before the introduction of the aesthetic procedures (1992 and 1993) compared with later years (2006 and 2007). We have noted a decline in numbers of advertisements within some themes (nourishing in particular showed a marked fall in number of mentions) while others have shown increases (those offering protection against UV radiation and pollution increased by 50% in the later data set). The remaining thematic categories were relatively constant over the period of study, though the emphasis shifted within the themes over time. This article concludes by asserting that the language has changed, that the vocabulary has become more inventive and that skincare products appear to be marketed as complementary to cosmetic procedures. In addition, some of the products appear to be being marketed as luxury items, something to be bought because owning and using it gives you pleasure and bestows prestige on the owner

Keynote Presentation at Ageing Societies: A Global Response

"Could we reimagine ageing as something that is so much more than skin deep and which we should not seek to fix, but to celebrate?" Keynote Presentation on how ageing is perceived by society as burdensome. The audience were presented with research conducted about the post-Botox spike in anti-ageing language within cosmetic advertisements. Dr Zeilig thoughtfully examined the negative perception of ageing within a society that elders contribute to their whole lives. Ageing Societies: A Global Response - a three-day online symposium - explored how societies around the globe are responding and adapting to population ageing - a global phenomenon that has emerged as a result of social and economic development. Organised by the University of the Arts London (UAL), a global leader in specialist art and design higher education, this symposium set out to present new models of international engagement, celebrate the creativity and activism of UAL's students and staff, and speculate on creative futures. The event focused on three key themes: • Silver Economy • Urban Regeneration and Spaces for Wellbeing • Ageing Future

Look Who's Talking .... About Mental Illness

An Invited blog from the journal Mental Health and Social Inclusion (2042-8308) which queries the conversations that have dominated during the covid-19 pandemic about mental illness

Reflecting Value: Whose safe spaces?

When you take a closer look at who participates in culture, health and wellbeing research projects you’ll see that similar kinds of people are represented time and time again. So, what barriers to access are we creating when we bring culture, health and research together? And what can we do to enable a diverse range of people to fully participate in cultural programmes designed to address health and wellbeing needs? This is a podcast on cultural value in relation to the Culture Box study. It was recorded by the Centre for Cultural Value at the University of Leeds. https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/podcast/whose-safe-spaces

Mirror Mirror

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Subjective wellbeing in people living with dementia: exploring processes of multiple object handling sessions in a museum setting.

Background: Dementia care guidance highlights the importance of supporting people living with dementia to access engaging and meaningful activities to promote their quality of life. There is a growing evidence base for the efficacy of heritage settings and arts-based interventions to provide social prescribing opportunities to help support wellbeing in this population. This study extended previous research and explored the potential processes underlying this effect in multiple small group object handling sessions in a museum setting. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used comprising a measure of subjective wellbeing and thematic analysis to explore in-the-moment session content across multiple sessions. Four people with dementia participated in three, one-hour group object handling sessions led by two facilitators. Results: Pre-post wellbeing scores showed increases after each session though this was largely not significant. Qualitative findings provided more compelling results, however, and identified four key themes: facilitating, interest in exploring objects, active participation, and group collaboration; interpretations were made around the dynamic interaction of themes and subthemes over the course of three sessions. Conclusions: This is the first study we are aware of that has taken an in-depth look at multiple museum-based group object handling sessions for people living with dementia. Findings offer ways to optimise object handling sessions for people with dementia by providing in-depth information about the processes involved across multiple object handling sessions facilitated by museum/heritage professionals in a museum setting. This has useful implications for community-based activities as part of dementia care planning and public health programming. The study contributes to a deeper understanding and elucidates the processes that enhance wellbeing for this population who participate in such sessions. It also helps to develop further theoretical understanding about why these types of activities are helpful in community-based dementia care. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed

Diverse Rhythms: Co-creativity and wellbeing in dementia care home settings

This article considers artistic co-creativity with people with dementia in residential care home settings. Co-Creativity is an approach that has been central to the work of Unmapped (a research group that is led by Julian West and Hannah Zeilig: www.unmapped.space) and was developed during their residency at the Wellcome Hub, Created Out of Mind. The article opens with a brief overview of the wider socio-cultural context for our work. This includes the role of the arts for people with dementia, arts in care home settings, some of the reasons that creativity has not been associated with people with dementia and the importance of co-creativity. We then focus on ‘Creative Encounters’ a recent project that Unmapped are collaborating on with Spitalfields Music. This project has demonstrated the ways in which co-creativity can also extend our understanding of wellbeing both for care home staff and also for residents with dementi

In Older Men’s Wardrobes: Creative Tales of Affect, Style and Constraint

Fashion in old age has been of increasing interest within various disciplines including social gerontology and fashion studies. However, there remains a scarcity of research concerning older men’s everyday dress practices. This paper redresses this imbalance through a detailed exploration of the everyday dress practices of a group of three sartorially minded older men. A series of in-depth interviews revealed the conscious ways in which the men style themselves, the various constraints that structure their dress and above all, the men’s emotional entanglements with their garments. The notion of wardrobe as a conceptual space (which is both mental and spatial) frames this study. Importantly, the older men’s dress practices are considered as they contribute to and extend notions of everyday creativity. Typically, when creativity is considered amongst older people this has tended to focus on individuals who can be conventionally defined and socially labelled as ‘creative’ types (artists, musicians etc.). In contrast, this study helps to reveal the extent to which all aspects of social life, including the mundane act of dressing may involve creative practices. If creativity is de-coupled from ‘high artistic achievement’ we can begin to understand how all individuals possess diverse forms of creative potential and capacity

Co-creativity: possibilities for using the arts with people with a dementia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of co-creativity in relation to artistic practice with people with a dementia. The aim of the discussion is to outline how co-creativity offers fresh approaches for engaging artists and people with dementia, can contribute to less restrictive understandings of “creativity” and above all, expand the understanding of people with a dementia as creative, relational and agential. Design/methodology/approach In order to examine current conceptions of co-creativity and to inform the artistic practice, relevant literature was explored and eight expert interviews were conducted. The interviews were thematically analysed and are included here. Findings This paper consequently demonstrates that improvisation, structure, leadership and equality are central elements of co-creative processes and outlines how co-creativity can offer fresh insights into the way in which the arts can engage people with a dementia, the relationship between creativity and dementia and the transformative potential of the co-creative arts for those living with a dementia. Research limitations/implications The paper discusses some of the difficulties that are inherent a co-creative approach, including power relations and the limitations of inclusivity. Due to ethical restrictions, the paper is limited by not including the perspectives of people living with a dementia. Practical implications This paper paves the way for future research into co-creative processes in a variety of different contexts. Social implications A more nuanced understanding of co-creativity with people with dementia could challenge the dominant biomedical and social paradigms that associate “dementia” with irretrievable loss and decline by creating opportunities for creative agency. Originality/value This exploration of co-creativity with people with dementia is the first of its kind and contributes to the wider understanding of co-creativity and co-creative practice

Objective Ageing

This is a blog post that explores ageing in material objects and in people. Norms of beauty are relevant here; beauty is persistently associated with youth and newness and this has affected our relationship with our own ageing (particularly in the West) and also with objects. These associations are important because aesthetic obsolescence of objects leads to dissatisfaction, detachment, and early disposal which has significant environmental and societal impacts. Whilst entrenched Western norms which perpetuate unattainable youthful perfection, reinforce ‘skin deep’ attitudes to ageing resulting in poor self-esteem and an increasingly ‘invisible’ older population. In this post, we start to tease out and connect strands of thought, drawing on trans-disciplinary constructs of ageing within the contexts of people and objects