Interview Summary
In 2012, this participant attended a theater performance of “Our Town” in Santa Monica with her high school class. Throughout the performance, the participants resonated with the emotions and experiences of the characters in the play and honed into the parts of the play that made parts of the main character’s life beautiful. They learned to appreciate every moment and find the beauty in life, which further confirmed their feelings about living each moment to the fullest. We adapt rather quickly to things we see every day. While this participant didn’t have any religious experiences, they were guided by their own philosophy about life (living in the moment).
Interview Transcript
Introduction
1
Interviewer: Okay. So in this interview, we're interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist. We're going to ask you to describe this experience in detail, so we'd like you to focus on an interaction with a particular artwork that someone else created. This may be a famous artwork or work that's not well known. They can be in artwork created by anyone other than you, and I wondered if you had already chosen your artwork.
2
Participant: Yeah, I already wrote about. Is it okay if I use the same one I wrote about?
3
Interviewer: Okay, so what is the artwork?
Description
4
Participant: Yeah, in like 20-. Oh, 2012, I think I or yeah. I saw a play in Santa Monica. at the Broad Theatre starring Helen Mirren, and it was called “Our Town.” and yeah.
5
Interviewer: oh, great! And then, so for this one would there be any way for? Do you have like any like screen grabs or anything where you could share a part of the artwork? Or maybe it makes more sense just for us to go in and find something about it
6
Participant: um you could probably, let me see if I can find it online. Hmm. I don't see any like I it's hard because it's like a live theater thing.
7
Interviewer: That's completely fine. I'm: Sure, we'll be able to find it. Okay, so could you describe the play for me? So what are the important details?
8
Participant: Yeah, basically the play takes place on like a barren stage in the round. So there's no prop. There's no sets. and then it follows basically like a small town, and really focuses on these 2 characters who throughout their years like start as friends. And then they fall in love. And then they get married. And the whole time like they're interacting with the town and like the things in their homes, and everything is mimed, and you don't see anything as the audience. and then when they get married, and then shortly after, the woman. I think her name is Emily. She gets pregnant, and then dies in childbirth, and then ends up in this like purgatory type world. and is told that she can go back and revisit one day of her life and then that's it. so she chooses to go like back to her like twelfth birthday, and then that's when we like, see that like a whole entire like set, and like the mom comes out, and she's cooking real bacon, and then, like you really see all the things that you didn't see before that she hadn't been noticing, either, when she was alive. and then the play ends with her partner mourning her loss over her grave, and her taking pity on him because he's, she's realized now that she spent her life not appreciating the beauty, and like the you know, the beauty and the little things, and the mundane things, and she's
you more like mourning, that he now doesn't see that either.
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
9
Interviewer: Oh, great, yeah, really interesting. Thank you for describing it. Oh, so why did you choose this play to talk about for this study?
10
Participant: Yeah, it was the first time I'd seen like theater you and like miming used in a way to really convey a message. And you know, like I've never seen like, or at that time I'd never seen a piece of theater where there was like no sets, no props like anything for a specific reason. and so that to me was really intriguing. I also like I personally really like stories that are like, oh, you have one life to live so like, Live it to the fullest. That's kind of like. Those are like my favorite types of stories. so that was kind of what, resonated with me the most, and it just really made me take a step back and realize there's a lot of times when I don't like it, acknowledge the beauty in the everyday life, and it's important to do that
11
Interviewer: great, and then
Process of Interacting
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
12
Interviewer: um, so now can you please tell me about the process of interacting with this play by answering a few more questions. So what led up to the interaction with this play? What motivated you to explore this piece?
13
Participant: Yeah, I went I was in high school at the time, and so I went as like a field trip with my theater class.
14
Interviewer: Mhm, okay.
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
15
Interviewer: and then so you kind of already mentioned this, but if there's anything more to add. When and where did the experience happen? And then who was involved besides you?
16
Participant: Yeah, I think it was in 2012 like around spring semester. I was in Santa Monica, the Broad Theater and sorry. What was the rest of the question?
17
Interviewer: yeah. And then who else was involved?
18
Participant: yeah. I mean the cast and the crew and then my the rest of my theater class, my theater teacher, who came with us to see the performance.
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
19
Interviewer: And then what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this play? For example, at the beginning, the middle, or the end or at any times that you want to select.
20
Participant: yeah, I think At first I was very like intrigued like I didn't know where this story was going, and then I thought it was really sweet and romantic at parts because of their little love story. And then towards the end, it was really sad because she dies, and you know she realizes that she'd missed out on her entire life. Basically.
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
21
Interviewer: And then can you describe any high points, low points or challenges or turning points as you were interacting with the play?
22
Participant: Yeah, I think. The high points for like the development of like the relationship. And then a turning point, I think, was when they revealed the set with like the bacon, and like the full, like kitchen, and like all the props and everything it was, it was just like completely out of nowhere and like it was really like that moment of like them pulling back the curtain. And using like a full kitchen after it's like watching them mine, for, like the whole first hour and a half, it it was really impactful.
23
Interviewer: And then, what about for you personally? Did you have any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with the play?
24
Participant: Yeah, I think I really appreciated the moments that, like really honed in that you know, she had been ignoring things in her life that are beautiful and you know, not appreciating things in the moment. But yeah.
Let’s talk about the impact of the artwork on you and your life.
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
25
Interviewer: yeah. So let's talk a little bit about the impact of the play on you in your life. So what did you learn from the process of interacting with the play? Did you learn anything about yourself?
26
Participant: Yeah, I I think I learned it's really important to appreciate, like every moment that you are alive because you only get one life, and after that it's not. There's not really anything, so it's important to appreciate everything while you have it.
Do you think that the artists intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
27
Interviewer: And then do you think that the playwright intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
28
Participant: Yeah, I think that was his whole message was to, you know encourage people to like kind of stop and smell the roses, and, you know, find beauty in everyday life.
Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the world?”
29
Interviewer: And then did your experience with the art, with the play, affect your understanding of others or the world?
30
Participant: Yeah, I think it. I mean, I'd already kind of been the kind of person that was like a “live each moment to the fullest” type person. But I think it really helped like or it really like honed that in and like really like It was like so impactful to me that I was like, oh, like, this is like my life philosophy.
31
Interviewer: Okay, great.
When some people think about themselves, they see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
32
Interviewer: So, when some people think about themselves. They see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with this play? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
33
Participant: yeah, I think just like you know really making sure that I’m you know kind of following the message of the play like that to me is like my truth, and you know it's like important to you know like again, like, be present and like, appreciate the beauty in the world that you otherwise kind of get used to, because you see it every day
Some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is defined as deep, underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity,
and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the
process of interacting with the artwork?
34
00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:47.310
Interviewer: And then some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is to find a deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it might include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. If this idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with the play?
35
Participant: I don't really like, believe in like any kind of ultimate meaning like. I think we just happen to exist, and we, as individuals, tend to assign a meaning as like a way of like coping, with, like the awareness that we're alive, so yeah, like I don't but it definitely has helped like me personally, like, guide my own philosophy and like the like You'll you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. And after that, like you once you're dead, you're dead. So again, I appreciate things that while they're here.
Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
36
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, and then some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God that might also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interactions with spirits. Do you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with the play?
37
Participant: No, not during the play.
Even if you did not have an experience like this, you may have felt some sort of inspiration, guidance, or encouragement from the nonphysical or supernatural. Or you may have felt some sense of presence or connection.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
38
Interviewer: Okay, so even if you didn't have an experience like that, you might have felt some sort of inspiration or guidance, or encouragement from the non-physical or supernatural or you might have felt a sense of presence or connection. Did you have any of those kinds of experiences during their interaction with the play?
39
Participant: No, not really. I'm not like a religious or spiritual person, so no.
40
Interviewer: Okay. Yeah, that's fine.
How old were you?
41
Interviewer: So I just have a few follow-up questions. I think you provided answers to some of these so if there's anything more that you'd like to say about them. the first one is just how old were you when you interacted with this play?
42
Participant: I was thinking I was like 18.
How do you perceive the quality of the work?
43
Interviewer: Okay. And then how did you perceive the quality of the play?
44
Participant: I thought it was really really high quality. The acting was really good. I mean it was starring Helen Mirren. The set, when they did have the set was like gorgeous like. It was one of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen, and it was only used for like 10 min. So
What goals (if any) did you have for interacting with the artwork?
45
Interviewer: did you have any goals for interacting with the play?
46
Participant: no, I think I just went in. Being like this is a fun field trip. I can't wait to watch this play, and you know, take it all in.
What is it about this artwork that distinguishes it from others, or what makes it special?
47
Interviewer: And then was there anything that distinguished that play from others like? I know you talked about this a little bit, but what do you think made makes it special?
48
Participant: Yeah, I think to me it just like my personal connection, like it, connecting to like my personal philosophy makes it a little bit special, and I do deem it as like one of my favorite plays now, and like I majored in theater, and I work in a theatre school now, so it holds a special place in my heart.
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
49
Interviewer: And then what was going on in your life anything meaningful or important around the time that you interacted with the play. That you saw the play.
50
Participant: I was in my senior Year High School, so I was. I guess I was. I don't know how like if I'd already been accepted to college. But I was like either like stressing out about getting into college, or like getting ready to go to UCLA, so that was definitely a big like change. I was like mentally preparing for at that time.
Interviewer: Great. Okay, great. Thank you so much.
In 2012, this participant attended a theater performance of “Our Town” in Santa Monica with her high school class. Throughout the performance, the participants resonated with the emotions and experiences of the characters in the play and honed into the parts of the play that made parts of the main character’s life beautiful. They learned to appreciate every moment and find the beauty in life, which further confirmed their feelings about living each moment to the fullest. We adapt rather quickly to things we see every day. While this participant didn’t have any religious experiences, they were guided by their own philosophy about life (living in the moment).
Interview Transcript
Introduction
1
Interviewer: Okay. So in this interview, we're interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist. We're going to ask you to describe this experience in detail, so we'd like you to focus on an interaction with a particular artwork that someone else created. This may be a famous artwork or work that's not well known. They can be in artwork created by anyone other than you, and I wondered if you had already chosen your artwork.
2
Participant: Yeah, I already wrote about. Is it okay if I use the same one I wrote about?
3
Interviewer: Okay, so what is the artwork?
Description
4
Participant: Yeah, in like 20-. Oh, 2012, I think I or yeah. I saw a play in Santa Monica. at the Broad Theatre starring Helen Mirren, and it was called “Our Town.” and yeah.
5
Interviewer: oh, great! And then, so for this one would there be any way for? Do you have like any like screen grabs or anything where you could share a part of the artwork? Or maybe it makes more sense just for us to go in and find something about it
6
Participant: um you could probably, let me see if I can find it online. Hmm. I don't see any like I it's hard because it's like a live theater thing.
7
Interviewer: That's completely fine. I'm: Sure, we'll be able to find it. Okay, so could you describe the play for me? So what are the important details?
8
Participant: Yeah, basically the play takes place on like a barren stage in the round. So there's no prop. There's no sets. and then it follows basically like a small town, and really focuses on these 2 characters who throughout their years like start as friends. And then they fall in love. And then they get married. And the whole time like they're interacting with the town and like the things in their homes, and everything is mimed, and you don't see anything as the audience. and then when they get married, and then shortly after, the woman. I think her name is Emily. She gets pregnant, and then dies in childbirth, and then ends up in this like purgatory type world. and is told that she can go back and revisit one day of her life and then that's it. so she chooses to go like back to her like twelfth birthday, and then that's when we like, see that like a whole entire like set, and like the mom comes out, and she's cooking real bacon, and then, like you really see all the things that you didn't see before that she hadn't been noticing, either, when she was alive. and then the play ends with her partner mourning her loss over her grave, and her taking pity on him because he's, she's realized now that she spent her life not appreciating the beauty, and like the you know, the beauty and the little things, and the mundane things, and she's
you more like mourning, that he now doesn't see that either.
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
9
Interviewer: Oh, great, yeah, really interesting. Thank you for describing it. Oh, so why did you choose this play to talk about for this study?
10
Participant: Yeah, it was the first time I'd seen like theater you and like miming used in a way to really convey a message. And you know, like I've never seen like, or at that time I'd never seen a piece of theater where there was like no sets, no props like anything for a specific reason. and so that to me was really intriguing. I also like I personally really like stories that are like, oh, you have one life to live so like, Live it to the fullest. That's kind of like. Those are like my favorite types of stories. so that was kind of what, resonated with me the most, and it just really made me take a step back and realize there's a lot of times when I don't like it, acknowledge the beauty in the everyday life, and it's important to do that
11
Interviewer: great, and then
Process of Interacting
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
12
Interviewer: um, so now can you please tell me about the process of interacting with this play by answering a few more questions. So what led up to the interaction with this play? What motivated you to explore this piece?
13
Participant: Yeah, I went I was in high school at the time, and so I went as like a field trip with my theater class.
14
Interviewer: Mhm, okay.
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
15
Interviewer: and then so you kind of already mentioned this, but if there's anything more to add. When and where did the experience happen? And then who was involved besides you?
16
Participant: Yeah, I think it was in 2012 like around spring semester. I was in Santa Monica, the Broad Theater and sorry. What was the rest of the question?
17
Interviewer: yeah. And then who else was involved?
18
Participant: yeah. I mean the cast and the crew and then my the rest of my theater class, my theater teacher, who came with us to see the performance.
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
19
Interviewer: And then what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this play? For example, at the beginning, the middle, or the end or at any times that you want to select.
20
Participant: yeah, I think At first I was very like intrigued like I didn't know where this story was going, and then I thought it was really sweet and romantic at parts because of their little love story. And then towards the end, it was really sad because she dies, and you know she realizes that she'd missed out on her entire life. Basically.
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
21
Interviewer: And then can you describe any high points, low points or challenges or turning points as you were interacting with the play?
22
Participant: Yeah, I think. The high points for like the development of like the relationship. And then a turning point, I think, was when they revealed the set with like the bacon, and like the full, like kitchen, and like all the props and everything it was, it was just like completely out of nowhere and like it was really like that moment of like them pulling back the curtain. And using like a full kitchen after it's like watching them mine, for, like the whole first hour and a half, it it was really impactful.
23
Interviewer: And then, what about for you personally? Did you have any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with the play?
24
Participant: Yeah, I think I really appreciated the moments that, like really honed in that you know, she had been ignoring things in her life that are beautiful and you know, not appreciating things in the moment. But yeah.
Let’s talk about the impact of the artwork on you and your life.
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
25
Interviewer: yeah. So let's talk a little bit about the impact of the play on you in your life. So what did you learn from the process of interacting with the play? Did you learn anything about yourself?
26
Participant: Yeah, I I think I learned it's really important to appreciate, like every moment that you are alive because you only get one life, and after that it's not. There's not really anything, so it's important to appreciate everything while you have it.
Do you think that the artists intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
27
Interviewer: And then do you think that the playwright intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
28
Participant: Yeah, I think that was his whole message was to, you know encourage people to like kind of stop and smell the roses, and, you know, find beauty in everyday life.
Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the world?”
29
Interviewer: And then did your experience with the art, with the play, affect your understanding of others or the world?
30
Participant: Yeah, I think it. I mean, I'd already kind of been the kind of person that was like a “live each moment to the fullest” type person. But I think it really helped like or it really like honed that in and like really like It was like so impactful to me that I was like, oh, like, this is like my life philosophy.
31
Interviewer: Okay, great.
When some people think about themselves, they see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
32
Interviewer: So, when some people think about themselves. They see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with this play? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
33
Participant: yeah, I think just like you know really making sure that I’m you know kind of following the message of the play like that to me is like my truth, and you know it's like important to you know like again, like, be present and like, appreciate the beauty in the world that you otherwise kind of get used to, because you see it every day
Some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is defined as deep, underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity,
and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the
process of interacting with the artwork?
34
00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:47.310
Interviewer: And then some people believe in ultimate meaning. This is to find a deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it might include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. If this idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with the play?
35
Participant: I don't really like, believe in like any kind of ultimate meaning like. I think we just happen to exist, and we, as individuals, tend to assign a meaning as like a way of like coping, with, like the awareness that we're alive, so yeah, like I don't but it definitely has helped like me personally, like, guide my own philosophy and like the like You'll you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. And after that, like you once you're dead, you're dead. So again, I appreciate things that while they're here.
Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
36
Interviewer: Yeah, okay, and then some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God that might also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interactions with spirits. Do you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with the play?
37
Participant: No, not during the play.
Even if you did not have an experience like this, you may have felt some sort of inspiration, guidance, or encouragement from the nonphysical or supernatural. Or you may have felt some sense of presence or connection.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
38
Interviewer: Okay, so even if you didn't have an experience like that, you might have felt some sort of inspiration or guidance, or encouragement from the non-physical or supernatural or you might have felt a sense of presence or connection. Did you have any of those kinds of experiences during their interaction with the play?
39
Participant: No, not really. I'm not like a religious or spiritual person, so no.
40
Interviewer: Okay. Yeah, that's fine.
How old were you?
41
Interviewer: So I just have a few follow-up questions. I think you provided answers to some of these so if there's anything more that you'd like to say about them. the first one is just how old were you when you interacted with this play?
42
Participant: I was thinking I was like 18.
How do you perceive the quality of the work?
43
Interviewer: Okay. And then how did you perceive the quality of the play?
44
Participant: I thought it was really really high quality. The acting was really good. I mean it was starring Helen Mirren. The set, when they did have the set was like gorgeous like. It was one of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen, and it was only used for like 10 min. So
What goals (if any) did you have for interacting with the artwork?
45
Interviewer: did you have any goals for interacting with the play?
46
Participant: no, I think I just went in. Being like this is a fun field trip. I can't wait to watch this play, and you know, take it all in.
What is it about this artwork that distinguishes it from others, or what makes it special?
47
Interviewer: And then was there anything that distinguished that play from others like? I know you talked about this a little bit, but what do you think made makes it special?
48
Participant: Yeah, I think to me it just like my personal connection, like it, connecting to like my personal philosophy makes it a little bit special, and I do deem it as like one of my favorite plays now, and like I majored in theater, and I work in a theatre school now, so it holds a special place in my heart.
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
49
Interviewer: And then what was going on in your life anything meaningful or important around the time that you interacted with the play. That you saw the play.
50
Participant: I was in my senior Year High School, so I was. I guess I was. I don't know how like if I'd already been accepted to college. But I was like either like stressing out about getting into college, or like getting ready to go to UCLA, so that was definitely a big like change. I was like mentally preparing for at that time.
Interviewer: Great. Okay, great. Thank you so much.
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