Event 3 : JackPedersenDESMA9

Ken Wells is a journalist and author known for his presentation "The Center Cannot Hold". He is able to dive into the challenges and uncertainties that face the world today and provide great wisdom on the importance of finding a common ground among issues. He refers to core values and institutions that have held society together. Wells highlighted the increase in polarization and the disappearance of trust that has gone away in our society today. Mr. Wells was very passionate on the topic of mental health and being mentally okay. This was very pleasing to hear and was able to brighten up my day significantly. Ken Wells then proceeded to go into his passion for opera singing and his journey of creating his first opera show. He took his passion to producers around the Los Angeles area ad they all told him that he would need to do it on his own, Not getting discouraged, he did it himself. He then tagged along the story of one of his close friends who was diagnosed with cancer. While going on his opera journey, he remembered that nothing is impossible. This was because that same friend got cured completely of that cancer in a mere three years. This inspired him to put his head down and continue the process of having his first opera showing. Elyn Saks was also a speaker in this presentation and shared her heart warming story as well. How she has medical diagnosed issues and is able to tell stories through her music. 

Image taken during Presentation By: Kenneth Wells

Image taken during Presentation By: Kenneth Wells

Image taken during Presentation By: Kenneth Wells

Works Cited 

“The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey through Madness.” The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness | UCLA Art | Sci Center + Lab, artsci.ucla.edu/node/1644. Accessed 6 June 2023.

Medzerian, David. “Professor’s Life Story Proves Opera-Worthy.” USC News, 4 Dec. 2017, news.usc.edu/104462/professors-life-story-proves-opera-worthy/.

“Music Benefits Both Mental and Physical Health.” Medical News Today, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/258383#:~:text=Playing%20and%20listening%20to%20music%20benefits%20both%20mental,body%E2%80%99s%20immune%20system%20and%20reduce%20levels%20of%20stress. Accessed 6 June 2023.

Rosenberg, Abe. “UCLA Psychiatrist Composes Opera to Tell Hope-Filled Story about Schizophrenia.” UCLA, 8 July 2016, newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/ucla-psychiatrist-composes-opera-to-tell-hope-filled-story-about-schizophrenia.

Salazar, David. “Exploring Mental Health in Kenneth Wells’ ‘the Center Cannot Hold.’” OperaWire, 9 May 2023, operawire.com/opera-profile-kenneth-wells-the-center-cannot-hold/.