# Cathartic Combat Films Brian McCarty Documents Children's Accounts of War Through Play Thera By Deborah Kim | Published 2011-07-10 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brian-mccarty References: [laughingsquid](http://laughingsquid.com/war-toys-brian-mccarty-documents-children-making-art-during-war) & [mccartyphotoworks](http://www.mccartyphotoworks.com/portfolio.html) This unreleased documentary by still-life photographer Brian McCarty titled ‘War Toys’ fuses art with a sort of therapeutic insight into the [innocent victims of war](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-friend-max-hate). Children are often the ones that are affected the most by the devastating results of war. Brian McCarty filmed his documentary in Jerusalem and interviewed children there. By means of [play therapy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retail-therapy1), he was able to use children as part of the direct process of documenting. Children often are affected in their expression -- how they see, feel and perceive things -- by their environment. Through this exploration, McCarthy is able to accurately and better understand how a child’s mind might work. This heart-wrenching documentary already has me in tears and proves that [art is healing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/johnson-johnson) and can be used for more than just aesthetics. Look out for this documentary and its release, and watch children making art not war. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 11% | Activity: 6% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Babies](https://www.trendhunter.com/babies) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Play Therapy:** The use of play therapy to document the innocent victims of war presents an opportunity for therapeutic innovation. - **Art-based Healing:** The use of art for more than aesthetics, specifically as a means for healing and therapy, presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry. - **Child-centered Filmmaking:** The use of children in the direct process of documenting presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the film industry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Healthcare:** The use of art and play therapy presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry, specifically in mental health and therapy practices. - **Film:** The use of child-centered filmmaking presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the film industry, specifically in documentary filmmaking and storytelling techniques. - **Education:** The use of play therapy and art-based healing presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the education industry, specifically in teaching strategies that address the mental health and wellbeing of students. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Journalist-Focused Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-shooting.md) - [Homeless Awareness Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-address.md) - [Child-Friendly Camera Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/camera-for-kids.md) - [Gun Violence Prevention Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sandy-hook-promise.md) - [Children-Focused Awareness Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego2.md) - [Medical Preparation Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medical-preparation-toy.md) - [Anti-Gun Water Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antigun-water-toys-jayhayspray20-promotes-change-in-societys-relationship-w.md) - [Explosion-Damaged Sculpture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-into-darkness.md) - [Contemporary Military Fashion Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ukrainian-brand-rbtnk.md)