Tanisha Gandhi
As a third-year UBC student studying Political Science and aspiring to become a political journalist or human rights lawyer, I never anticipated finding myself drawn to a project that delves into the world of art and intergenerational connections. However, life works in mysterious ways, and my involvement in the documentary project has been nothing short of transformative. Already the initial phases of this project have broadened my perspective and challenged my preconceived notions about the power of art and intergenerational co-creation. Truthfully these are concepts I never put much thought into before this, yet now I can’t help but notice how they impact every aspect of everyday life. In this reflection paper, I will share my personal journey and explore the emerging questions and insights that have arisen during this remarkable experience.
My initial introduction to this project was an unexpected one. As a student passionate about both film and writing, I never thought I would find an opportunity in which I get to explore both of these subjects. Throughout the first few days of working on this project, I was still confused as to what exactly we were trying to capture through the film. However, I was open to finding out, and slowly but surely, we started peeling back layers to discover what the ethos of our project would be about. It was exciting, and felt like we were putting together pieces of a puzzle. Soon I was introduced to the inspiring Continuing Continuing Studies (CCS) students whom Keiko had taught at SFU and their seed projects. Each time I met and interviewed a member, I learned something new, and the interviews were truly some of the most insightful and meaningful conversations I have ever been a part of. These individuals, belonging to different generations, backgrounds, and life experiences, have shown me the power of agency. Through their collective efforts, they have not only created beautiful pieces of self-expression but have also forged strong bonds that surpass generational barriers.
Some takeaways that especially resonated with me from the interviews include our creation of the “grey scale” analogy during Jase’s interview. This analogy centred around the idea of how society likes to categorize things into “black or white.” However, most things in life are interconnected, and true creativity and flourishing occur in those “messy grey areas” of life. This led me to wonder about the core question we sought to answer during this process, how self-expression and co-creation with others can co-exist without impeding on the other? How can we facilitate this “grey” middle-ground space between the two? Is it truly possible? This question was somewhat answered by all the CCS group members through their interviews regarding how they believed this issue might be solved. In Ela’s interview, she reflected on the tonal miscommunications between cultures, for example, the lack of polite formalities in German culture. Nurturing effective communication involves recognizing diverse perspectives and starting at the individual level to bring about collective change. In order to create this grey space, one must be open and flexible, as that is the only way to learn new things and escape rigidity.
These complicated philosophies made me think of my own personal biases and how I can push myself outside of my comfort zone. In a way writing the white paper for this documentary is doing just that, as I have never had an opportunity before where I must reflect on my own thoughts and practices this much. One of the most intriguing aspects of this project has been the emergence of questions related to the role of art in society. How does art contribute to our collective understanding and shape our cultural identity? In what ways does art challenge societal norms and provoke critical thinking? This question was beautifully addressed through Eunice’s first interview. Her seed project was one of the most unique and challenging for me. It involved painting over traditionally colonial pieces of art with the ‘negative’ Asian stereotypes she has grown up with, such as slanted eyes and yellow skin. The idea was to invoke internal conversation and question the negative connotations previously attached to these stereotypes. She also explained how this was about her experience as an Asian-Canadian. If people were to find it offensive or not politically correct, then that was a good thing, as trying to make everyone conform with a shared experience “boxes yourself in.” As an individual whose parents are immigrants, I found this idea exciting and very important, my experience cannot be the same as many others, and by finding things “offensive,” I close myself off from learning about their story.
Lastly, another important takeaway from these interviews was learned from Lucy. Lucy’s seed project involved facilitating activities between seniors and elementary school-aged children as a means of creating intergenerational connections in our rapidly changing world. In an era dominated by technology and social media, face-to-face interactions and shared experiences across generations have become increasingly rare. The intergenerational bonds formed during this project serve as a reminder of the value and richness that comes from engaging with individuals from different age groups. It has become evident to me that fostering intergenerational connections is not only beneficial for personal growth but also essential for the development of a cohesive and inclusive society. This idea was especially important to me as I began writing the first component of the white paper, a research article. During my research, I was struck by the sadly high statistics of people exhibiting ageist views and questioned whether or not I have ever done so. I was also particularly interested in why these views come about and how they may be changed. The hypothesis of our project is that intergenerational relationships will not only facilitate more innovation but also lead to a more understanding and open society for all ages.
As someone who was born and raised in Vancouver, I have often heard of Vancouver’s reputation for being a colder and more reserved city, a sentiment which was shared by most of our interviewees as well. This is especially evident in its lack of intergenerational spaces and programs and is what I wanted to focus my research on. The absence of these spaces for different age groups to come together limits opportunities for shared experiences and perpetuates isolation. While conducting my research, I found that there are numerous mental and physical benefits for both age groups when partaking in these practices. Which leads me to wonder, why is there such a disconnect? Is it because of technology? Or does it have to do with creating an increasingly profit-driven society that mainly focuses on working-age adults? Whatever the reasoning may be, I have felt my perspective shift during this project and now would love to see more intergenerational spaces and programs in Vancouver.
Engaging in the documentary project exploring co-creation, self-expression, and intergenerational connections has been an incredibly enriching experience so far. It has allowed me to witness the power of art in fostering self-expression, building bridges across generations, and challenging societal norms. The project has prompted me to question the role of art in shaping our society, what shared experiences are, and how to nourish one’s own creativity while working with others.
The Colloquium 