I run workshops in our community centre. A group of boys have got into wild and aggressive forms of expression through art, painting scenes of murders and death. I am concerned that they may be troubled in some way.
There are sometimes reasons to be concerned about the creative expression of violence. This tends to occur when young people have either experienced violence and try to communicate it through drawing or when the young person has some issues that are troubling them psychologically. Boys tend to be more aggressive in their drawing than girls.
If you feel there are worrying signs in some of the drawings, you should discuss the concerns with the boys. Ask what they represent and why they felt the need to present them in this way. You will gather a lot from the discussion and hopefully discover that there is much bravado and competition in the work. Consider running a “gore-free” session where they paint something with specific boundaries. If you still have concerns with the way the boys continue to present their ideas, then you might want to refer them to counselling.
Answered by Tracie Trimmer-Platman, senior lecturer in youth and community work at the University of East London
Email questions, marked “Experts”, to cypnow@markallengroup.com
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