The Narrative
In 2018 a group of friends working closely with the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, came together to learn about how music and lyrics can reinforce and enhance certain concepts that junior youth were learning about in their groups. These friends decided to initiate a long-term process of learning how the influence of the junior youth program is extended and advanced through the creation of songs that reflection the profound concepts found in the materials. The initial vision included gathering every three months, for two consecutive weekends, to study a text of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. Following their study of the text they would get together for an entire weekend in a seminar space where they would write and record original songs, based on the text they had studied the weekend before. This project soon became known as Media for Transformation.
The process that Media for Transformation has put in motion consists of three parts: the text study, the music seminar, and the production/dissemination process:
Text Study
The text study is a prerequisite of the music seminar. It takes place a week before the music seminar and is comprised of a full exploration of the junior youth text including the story and questions. The themes in the text are explored in great detail, as well as the conversations Animators have with youth and families surrounding certain themes and how they relate to them in their daily lives. Participants then come up with themes they want to explore in their lyric writing, based on the themes of the text. Participants conclude by listening to melodies that have been submitted to identify ones that match best with the chosen themes.
Music Seminar
The music seminar is where the bulk of the songwriting takes place over the course of a weekend. It begins with a reflection of the qualities and attitudes that set a unity of vision for the music seminar such as detachment, consultation, and humility. Components of effective messaging in songs and the credibility behind the voice are explored. A selection of pre-selected melodies are consulted on and matched to the themes that are explored in the songwriting. These melodies become a framework for the lyric writing. While a narrative takes shape in the lyrics, music seminar participants share the initial progress of the songs with junior youth and receive feedback about the content and its relevance to the lives of junior youth. The insights gained then informs how participants refine the songs.
Production and Dissemination
The final stage of the music seminar is to record the songs with the help of experienced sound engineers and musicians. Afterwards songs are produced, mixed, and mastered. Songs are then uploaded along with a series of comprehension questions to assist animators in integrating the songs into their junior youth groups. An ongoing object of learning that is receiving attention is how can the songs reach the junior youth more effectively and contribute to an advance in culture.
Purpose
Our purpose is to build the capacity of those working closely with junior youth in the region (who are known as Animators), to translate the profound concepts in the junior youth program into original songs. The songs tell stories inspired by the junior youth text and real life experiences that the junior in the region are facing. Through lyrics that give hope and melodies that uplift, the songs seek to contribute to the empowerment of youth and the transformation of culture. Our hope is that these songs become tools and resources to further understand concepts explored in the junior youth program, and that they are an accessible alternative to popular music.
An ongoing object of learning is to seek a shift in culture and awareness surrounding our own media consumption. Furthermore, we hope to learn how we can align our values with the media that we consume and produce.
To date, Media for Transformation has completed 5 sessions, inspired by the following junior youth texts: Breezes of Confirmation, Glimmerings of Hope, Learning About Excellence, Wellspring of Joy, and Human Temple.
Media for Transformation is based in Vancouver, Canada, and is under the guidance of the Regional Institute Board of the Baha’i’s of British Columbia.
Interviews and Publications about the Initiative
Bahai.chat Webinar:
Esther Maloney & Shadi Toloui-Wallace: Transforming Culture Through Film & Music
A space where we discussed the Illumine Media Project and Media for Transformation. Two projects that, inspired by the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, strive to transform and uplift culture through music and film.
BahaiBlog Interview:
ColbyJeffers.com Podcast Interview: