- Title
- An investigation into the representation of the mentally ill in popular film
- Creator
- Vermeulen, Monique
- Subject
- Mental illness in motion pictures
- Subject
- Mental illness
- Subject
- Mass media
- Date Issued
- 2008
- Date
- 2008
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- vital:8403
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/800
- Identifier
- Mental illness in motion pictures
- Identifier
- Mental illness
- Identifier
- Mass media
- Description
- There is a common perception that media depiction of mental health and illness is overwhelmingly negative and inaccurate. Media portrayal of mental illness is also viewed as an important element in forming and influencing society’s attitudes towards mental health issues, although there is no causal link to prove this. People with mental illness are most commonly shown as being violent and aggressive. Movie stereotypes that contribute to the stigmatisation of mentally ill persons include the mental patient as rebellious free spirit, homicidal maniac, seductress, enlightened member of society, narcissistic parasite, and zoo specimen. The profession of psychiatry is, has always been, and will likely continue to be a much enjoyed subject among filmmakers and their audiences, as it tends to provide exciting and emotionally compelling opportunities to portray personal struggles feared by most of humanity. This research will analyse the entertainment media in an attempt to provide evidence to support the above statement. The research will, furthermore, analyse the manner in which entertainment media represent the mentally ill with reference to popular films invariably produced in the US
- Format
- 90 leaves ; 31 cm
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Arts
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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NMMU School of Language, Media and Culture
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