Project Process

My overall concept for my final project is the relationship between mental health and substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) that a student in college can struggle with. Growing up, I have always been passionate about mental health advocacy and substance-use rehabilitation because it has such a huge impact on the person under the abuse and also those surrounding them. Through my project, I plan to address these promising lies of happiness and joy that abusive substance use tells many individuals.

For my words, it will be a short word poem I wrote back in high school that addresses substance abuse. For my sound, I decided to make my own sound using loops through a DAW. I added piano, synth, and SFX sounds to create music that is empathetic to the struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues. The music will have distinct parts depending on the part of the poem. For images, I shot videos with my friend acting as the main character. These video clips include her struggling to sleep and showing behavioral signs associated with anxiety and depression. She will be offered white powder and transparent liquid. I also shot clips of some visual highs of substance use through various layered video effects.