Extra Credit Event 2: Veteran Journeys Opera

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 For this event, I went to the Veteran Journeys Opera: World Premiere. This event was done in partnership with the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the California Arts Council. I really enjoyed this event and it was both meaningful and unique. The composer of the opera is Dr. Kenneth Wells who has an MD and MPH and works at UCLA. In the past he has composed other operas about topics such as mental health. He uses media and the arts to address the stigma surrounding mental health. His first opera was called "The First Lady" and was on the topic of dealing with grief. His second opera was called "The Center Cannot Hold" about recovery from schizophrenia. His third opera is the one I viewed, called "Veteran Journeys". 

Dr. Kenneth Wells 

I had never viewed an opera before, so this was a new experience for me. I really liked how this opera told stories, while embracing the theatre performance. It told true stories to honor veterans just in time for Memorial Day. One act went through the point of view of a navy social worker, and how they say how families were impacted. The navy social worker helped console family members and provide them with tools to cope with their loved ones absences. 

Screenshot from the opera

Another act went through a war scene, from the point of view of a solider. The act had gunshots and war sounds in the background, while the opera singers shared the story of a solider. The scene was suspenseful, with the solider running for their life, and ended tragically with the solider dying. 

Another act went through a scene at the Veteran sisters group at the VA. This scene was about a women's support group at the VA. It was more upbeat and hopeful, and was about women supporting each other while their loved ones were serving. They scene showed how the women eased each others stress and gave each other strength.

Women's support group at the VA

I think event was really interesting in that it combined an artistic musical performance with true stories from Veterans. I think it touched on many important issues, like mental health, and showed how veterans and their families were affected mentally by their experiences. I think this was a very important topic because 20% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from either major depression or PTSD. I think more awareness needs to be bought to this topic, so I'm glad there was an event like this. I also liked seeing photos of veterans from the past and hearing the opera. I would definitely recommend this event to others, and would love to attend another myself!

Sources:

A Brief History of Opera, sfopera.com/discover-opera/intro-to-opera/a-brief-history-of-opera/. 

“Kenneth Wells, M.D., M.P.H.” Kenneth Wells, M.D., M.P.H. | Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, www.semel.ucla.edu/profile/kenneth-wells-md-mph. 

“Kenneth Wells.” Kenneth Wells | Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, 25 May 2021, ph.ucla.edu/faculty/wells. 

Natalia Kuznetsova, Tidewater Community College. “Music Appreciation.” Lumen, courses.lumenlearning.com/musicappreciation_with_theory/chapter/overview-of-opera/. 

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior |, www.semel.ucla.edu/. 

“VA.gov Home.” Veterans Affairs, www.va.gov/. 

“Veteran Mental Health - Facts and Stats That Need to Be Addressed.” National Veterans Foundation, 26 July 2018, nvf.org/veteran-mental-health-facts-statistics/. 

“We're Here Anytime, Day or Night - 24/7.” Mental Health, www.research.va.gov/topics/mental_health.cfm. 


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