Artful MediationArtful Mediation

by Dr. Roberta Morrisby Dr. Roberta Morris

www.artwalkinc.orgwww.artwalkinc.org

Why Why Artful MediationArtful Mediation??

Everyone has their own side of the storyEveryone has their own side of the story

that needs to be aired, shared, and heard. That'sthat needs to be aired, shared, and heard. That's

basic to almost all mediation practices.  basic to almost all mediation practices. 

What we emphasize in What we emphasize in Artful MediationArtful Mediation is that is that these are indeed stories, part of a rich tradition these are indeed stories, part of a rich tradition

of storytelling and other artistic practices. of storytelling and other artistic practices. 

This is a creative processThis is a creative process

Storytellers utilize conflict as a means of Storytellers utilize conflict as a means of character developmentcharacter development. .

A plot-heavy story is one in which there is conflict A plot-heavy story is one in which there is conflict yet no character arc, no character development.yet no character arc, no character development.

Narrative mediators refer to this as “conflict-Narrative mediators refer to this as “conflict-saturated” narratives.saturated” narratives.

Artful mediationArtful mediation focuses on character focuses on character development as much as settlement in development as much as settlement in

achieving conflict resolution.achieving conflict resolution.

Dominant StoriesDominant Stories

Some stories dominate the culture and Some stories dominate the culture and participants’ imaginations while others remain participants’ imaginations while others remain unexplored/underdevelopedunexplored/underdeveloped

Conflict-saturated relationship stories relegate Conflict-saturated relationship stories relegate other stories to the marginsother stories to the margins

Pervasive cultural stories shape families, Pervasive cultural stories shape families, workplaces, institutions, communities, (e.g. workplaces, institutions, communities, (e.g. gender, social class, disability, sexual gender, social class, disability, sexual orientation)orientation)

Binary systems dominate Binary systems dominate many western cultural many western cultural narratives:narratives:

““Cowboys/Indians”Cowboys/Indians” ““Space Invaders/Earthlings”Space Invaders/Earthlings” ““He/She”He/She” ““Aggressor/Victim”Aggressor/Victim”

There is always another way to There is always another way to structure the story, many other structure the story, many other ways.ways.

Power is constituted in Power is constituted in storiesstories

Power specifies who can speak, to Power specifies who can speak, to whom, about what whom, about what

Power is a function of discoursePower is a function of discourse Power establishes normsPower establishes norms Power is legitimated in lawPower is legitimated in law Power is constructed in organizational Power is constructed in organizational

hierarchies*hierarchies*** *slide from John Winslade’s “Narrative Mediation in the Workplace ACR 2006.”

Used with permission

Positive and negative Positive and negative experiencesexperiences

ConnectionsConnections

Conflict-Saturated Dynamics emphasize Conflict-Saturated Dynamics emphasize negative experiences in relationshipnegative experiences in relationship

ConflictConflict

Linking positive experiences in conflict Linking positive experiences in conflict narrative opens possibilities for a new narrative opens possibilities for a new narrative, and a happier outcomenarrative, and a happier outcome

PositivesPositives

RememberRemember

““The person’s not the The person’s not the problem; the problem is the problem; the problem is the

problem” problem”

Michael WhiteMichael White

Strategies for artful re-Strategies for artful re-telling of the storytelling of the story

Shift from conflict story to a preferred Shift from conflict story to a preferred genre (i.e., tragedy to situation comedy)genre (i.e., tragedy to situation comedy)

Re-author relationshipsRe-author relationships Re-position relations to dominant stories Re-position relations to dominant stories Change the relationship story in order to Change the relationship story in order to

solve the problem and relationshipssolve the problem and relationships

There are different ways and different There are different ways and different mediums for storytelling. mediums for storytelling. Artful Artful

Mediation Mediation uses all the gifts people bring uses all the gifts people bring

to the table.to the table.    Some people are gifted at oral storytelling, some Some people are gifted at oral storytelling, some

with drama, some are better at writing, singing, with drama, some are better at writing, singing, painting, or dance. painting, or dance. 

While many traditional mediation practices might While many traditional mediation practices might privilege linguistically gifted people, privilege linguistically gifted people, Artful Artful Mediation Mediation affirms various means of expressing affirms various means of expressing

and resolving conflict.and resolving conflict.

What kind of genius are What kind of genius are you?you?

1) Verbal-linguistic (word smart) ?1) Verbal-linguistic (word smart) ?Already priviledged in most mediation practices; Already priviledged in most mediation practices; ArtfulArtful practices include role plays, practices include role plays,

brainstorming/improv brainstorming/improv Puppetry, masks, and other dramatic elements may be Puppetry, masks, and other dramatic elements may be

considered.considered.

2) Logical-mathematical (numbers/reasoning 2) Logical-mathematical (numbers/reasoning smart)?smart)?Affirm the talents of someone who is more talented Affirm the talents of someone who is more talented with numbers than words: “You do the math!”with numbers than words: “You do the math!”

3) Visual-spatial (picture smart)3) Visual-spatial (picture smart) Use and honor ‘doodling’; the filmmaker can Use and honor ‘doodling’; the filmmaker can story board the problem; the architect may story board the problem; the architect may consider it as a building project . New consider it as a building project . New storytelling technologies. YouTube, video storytelling technologies. YouTube, video cams, etc.) can be tools in a mediator’s cams, etc.) can be tools in a mediator’s toolbox.toolbox.

4) Body-kinesthetic (body and athletics 4) Body-kinesthetic (body and athletics smart)smart) Allow Allow for for pacing; walking mediationpacing; walking mediation

5) Auditory-musical (music smart)5) Auditory-musical (music smart) Parties play their own song in their heads. Parties play their own song in their heads.

Diane Keating prepares for scenes this way Diane Keating prepares for scenes this way and my students and clients report this to be and my students and clients report this to be most helpful. most helpful.

6) Interpersonal communication (people 6) Interpersonal communication (people smart)smart)

Again, already priviledged in most mediation Again, already priviledged in most mediation practices, artful mediators are careful to practices, artful mediators are careful to balance this with other participants’ strengths. balance this with other participants’ strengths.

Multiple giftsMultiple gifts

7) Intrapersonal communication (self, 7) Intrapersonal communication (self, soulfully smart)soulfully smart)

Use of silence; respecting an introvert’s need Use of silence; respecting an introvert’s need to ‘sleep on it’; focus on respectto ‘sleep on it’; focus on respect

8) Naturalist8) Naturalist

Use of nature analogies; using natural light and Use of nature analogies; using natural light and venues that incorporate natural elementsvenues that incorporate natural elements

Existential IntelligenceExistential Intelligence

Howard Gardner, the pioneer of multiple intelligence Howard Gardner, the pioneer of multiple intelligence theories in education, suggests another form of theories in education, suggests another form of intelligence may be added: intelligence may be added: ExistentialExistential IntelligenceIntelligence, that , that is the ability to grasp ultimate meanings. is the ability to grasp ultimate meanings.

Kenneth Cloke’s work, transformational mediation Kenneth Cloke’s work, transformational mediation techniques may be relevant here.techniques may be relevant here.

Artful practices and Artful practices and ethicsethics

Artful practices have an ethical dimension, since Artful practices have an ethical dimension, since aesthetics (the work of artists) refers to the design of aesthetics (the work of artists) refers to the design of the world we create and recreate in our dramas and the world we create and recreate in our dramas and conflict resolutions. conflict resolutions.

Ponder the famous philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Ponder the famous philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein’s claim:claim:

““Ethics and aesthetics are one and the Ethics and aesthetics are one and the same.” same.”

Tractatus Logico-PhilosophicusTractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.4216.421

An artists’ measureAn artists’ measure

There is a need to experiment, to take There is a need to experiment, to take risks, and develop creative techniques. risks, and develop creative techniques.

Keep in mind the artists’ adage with Keep in mind the artists’ adage with

respect to creative experiments for respect to creative experiments for making peace: making peace:

““Whatever works is good.”Whatever works is good.”