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Amir, Dorit: The Role Of Music Therapy In Establishing Cultural Identity ...
The Role Of Music Therapy In Establishing Cultural Identity In A
In this presentation I will:
Multi-Cultural State, Namely Israel
Dorit Amir
1. Describe the issues that are involved in "establishing a cultural identity"
in a
2. Multi-cultural state
3. Examine Israel’s cultural identity and show its connection to Israeli
folksong repertoire
4. Examine the role of music therapy in representing, bringing out and
dealing with such issues
5. Discuss my own dilemmas as a clinician and as a head of a music
therapy program in regard to these issues
In order to illustrate these points, I will bring examples from my clinical
work and my music therapy-training program. I will conclude with my own
feelings about establishing a cultural identity in Israel.
1. What are the issues involved in "establishing a cultural identity" in a
multi cultural state?
Cultural identity and mental health are closely related. Needless to say, I
am going to examine the issues involved in establishing a cultural identity as
they are related to issues of health and quality of life, since improving
health and quality of life are my main concern as a music therapist. By
multi-cultural I mean various ethnic, religious, political, social and special
sub-cultures that exist in the same place.
Ruth Bright, in her book: Grief and Powerlessness, helping people regain
control of their lives talks about grief over cultural losses themselves and
change of old living styles. She asks the following questions:
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