The artistic experience entails repetition of actions, thoughts or emotions, over which the adolescent gains increased tolerance or mastery. While providing a means to express pain and unfulfilled longings during a distinct maturational phase, the arts simultaneously engage the competent, hopeful and healthy aspects of the adolescent's being. 9 Similarly, the humanities encourage youth to read, write and express themselves in a disciplined way. Changes in body image may be expressed through movement and dance. Drama offers the opportunity to explore identity by integrating childhood roles and experimenting with future possibilities.
Music expresses emotional dissonance and volatility.
The visual arts provide a vehicle for translating inner experiences to outward visual images. 10 Writing and oral history projects bring a greater understanding of one's family and neighborhood. The arts and the humanities teach the value of discipline and teamwork and the tangible rewards each can bring . When children's efforts culminate in a performance or exhibition, they have a chance to experience meaningful public affirmation, which provides them with some degree of celebrity. For those few minutes, children are in their own eyes every bit as important as anybody-any TV, sports, music, movie or video idol.