The project, supported by seed funding from the Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research and UoL examines the contribution of film as a research method in the medical and health humanities. The aims of this study are to a) engage the practice of filmmaking as a creative method of recovery, b) evaluate the methodological impact of film with recovery workers and service users and c) establish interdisciplinary collaborative networks between academic researchers, art institutions and service-providers for the purpose of recovery research.
The study follows the involvement of people in recovery from drugs and alcohol in the pre-production, production, and dissemination of 'STEPHEN', a featured film conceived and directed by Melanie Manchot and commissioned by the Liverpool Biennial.
The film explores the struggles associated with addiction and recovery as well as the potential for transformation through collective creativity and connection with others. By following our participants through this process, we examine how the creative practice of film making can inform new ways of talking about addiction and recovery in ways that go beyond talking therapy and structured recovery groups. Making the object of the camera the central focus of inquiry we investigate the camera’s presence as a device that mediates connections and supports on-going, longer term processes of recovery and policy mak
Associated publications
Theodoropoulou L., Manchot M., Vitellone N. 2020 ‘Interrupted connections: social distancing and the risk of relapse for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol’, Centre for Health, Arts, Society and Environment
Vitellone N., Theodoropoulou L. and Manchot M. 2022 ‘Recovery as a Minor Practice’, Special Section ‘Practising Recovery: New approaches and policy directions’ edited by Vitellone, N., Theodoropoulou, L. and Duff, C. International Journal of Drug Policy, vol.107
Theodoropoulou, L., Vitellone, N., and Manchot, L. (2024) 'Minor Practices of Recovery: the social life of creative methods', Polyphony: conversations across the medical humanities.
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