Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 21 No. 2, 2009.
Review article
PSYCHIATRY AND MOVIES
Aleksandar Damjanović
; Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
Olivera Vuković
; Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
Aleksandar A. Jovanović
; Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
Miroslava Jašović-Gašić
; Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
Abstract
As one of the most potent and substantial form of mass communication, film exercises a very significant influence upon the perceptions of the audience, especially in relation to mental illness issues, and that perception is very much blurred with populists’ misinterpretation and lack of awareness regarding problems faced by persons suffering from mental disorders. Movies such as “Psycho”, “One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Exorcist”, despite being valuable in an artistic sense, corroborated and encouraged confusion and undermined the clarity and certainty concerning the fine line separating mental health from mental illness. Modern film
makers and movie theoreticians try to overcome these limitations which are often generated by exploitation of stereotypes and myths referring to mentally ill people. This paper defines and discusses the most frequent thematic stereotypes seen in movies which are perpetuating stigmatization of mentally ill people. They are: freespirited rebel, maniac on a killing spree, seducer, enlightened member of society, narcissistic parasite, beastly person (stereotype of animal sort). Psychiatry and cinematography are linked inseparably not only because they creatively complement each other, but also as an opportunity of mutual influences blending into didactical
categories and professional driving forces, benefiting both the filmmakers’ and the psychiatrists’ professions.
Keywords
film; social impact; psychiatry; mental illness
Hrčak ID:
39897
URI
Publication date:
21.3.2009.
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