Introduction
The stigmatization of mental disorders begins with the reduction of a specific person with a diagnosis to a stereotype. Often, the depiction of people with mental disorders in popular films corresponds to the real manifestations of various diseases. For example, the behavioral traits of Vinnie from Brassic and Klaus from Umbrella Academy, suffering from bipolar disorder, Madison from Fear of Rain, and Adam from Words on Bathroom Walls, suffering from schizophrenia, have some similarities with reality. However, despite the plausibility of these symptoms, dramas often idealize the relationships of people with mental illnesses with others and present a desired happy ending instead of a probable outcome.
Accuracy of Depictions
In the drama films and TV series selected for analysis, the diseases themselves are presented with a high level of accuracy. For example, Vinnie from Brassic and Klaus from Umbrella Academy experience periods of mania and depression. For example, Vinnie, during periods of mania, builds a crazy plan to steal expensive fish (“Getting There” 10:04). During a period of depression, he is so depressed that he does not stop drinking even in order to spend time with his young son (“Getting There” 42:45).
Klaus organizes his own cult during the mania period, where people worship him as a God (“Extra Ordinary” 24:57). During a period of depression, he lies in the bathroom and cries (“Extra Ordinary” 20:44). Adam from Words on Bathrooms sees hallucinations of various kinds during psychosis (Words on Bathroom Walls 1:45:07). Madison from Fear of Rain it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms of her schizophrenia from reality (Fear of Rain 1:30:56). Thus, the symptoms of the heroes’ diseases and the various periods in their course are transmitted quite accurately.
Mental Health Stigma
The mental health stigma that surrounds images in selected films, dramas, and TV series consists of unconditional understanding or acceptance by loved ones. Vinnie from Brassic is allowed to see his son alone (“Day at the Dogs” 18:14). However, the court often deprives fathers with mental illnesses of parental rights (Mancine 17). Klaus from Umbrella Academy sees support and warmth from sisters and brothers (“I Heard a Rumour” 34:52). In reality, the mental illness of one of the siblings can destroy the relationship between the siblings (Perciaccante et al. 2352). A classmate falls in love with Adam from Words on Bathrooms Walls and confesses her love after she finds out that he is ill (Words on Bathroom Walls 58:54).
However, couples often break up due to unwillingness to have a mentally unhealthy partner. Madison’s visions from Fear of Rain regarding her aunt’s intentions turn out to be true (Fear of Rain 34:16), and her parents end up believing her. However, in most cases, the invasive thoughts of patients during psychosis have no real justification (Kiranamita 35). Thus, a mental health stigma is created that the illness contributes to the rapprochement of the family, although in reality, patients do not always face the understanding and support of loved ones.
Potential Influence on Public Understanding
Potential influence on public understanding can show what kind of support people with mental illness need and how their relationship with others affects them. For example, Adam from Words on Bathroom Walls starts feeling worse when classmates bully him (Words on Bathroom Walls 07:43). Vinnie from Brassic really counts on the support of his friends, and their presence next to him really helps him (“Getting There” 21:45).
For Madison from Fear of Rain, it is difficult to separate reality from things happening only in her head, so she needs the help of loved ones (Fear of Rain 12:07). Klaus from Umbrella Academy is thinking about suicide, so a heartfelt conversation with his brother saves his life (“I Heard a Rumour” 11:24). Thus, the potential influence on public understanding is that people suffering from mental illnesses are very vulnerable and need support.
Empathy Toward Dealing with Mental Health Challenges
Watching selected drama films and TV series helps trigger empathy towards dealing with mental health challenges. They show what difficult events in the lives of patients could serve as a trigger. In the story of Vinnie from Brassic, this is the departure of his mother from the family when he was little (“Day at the Dogs” 24:01). Klaus from Umbrella Academy sees dead people and their voices drive him crazy, causing bipolar disorder (“Extra Ordinary” 18:25).
Creative people cannot fully engage in their hobbies due to the side effects of drugs for schizophrenia (Kiranamita 33). Because of the tremor in his hands, Adam from Words on Bathroom Walls cannot hold a knife in the kitchen and do the cooking (Words on Bathroom Walls 41:39), and Madison from Fear of Rain is difficult to draw (Fear of Rain 36:16). Thus, the background of the characters and the difficulties they face in everyday life can cause empathy on the part of the viewer.
Conclusion
Thus, watching modern drama films and TV series can form the viewer’s idea of the symptoms of the disease and make them more aware of the issue of mental illnesses. By demonstrating the difficulties that the characters experience in everyday life, and the events that triggered the disease for them, it is possible to achieve an increase in empathy on the part of society. However, there is still a certain idealization and romanticization in the cinema image of mental diseases, which can create a false impression about the interaction of patients with others.
Works Cited
“Day at the Dogs.” Brassic, created by Joe Gilgun, season 3, episode 3, Sky One, 2022.
“Extra Ordinary.” The Umbrella Academy, created by Steve Blackman, season 1, episode 3, Netflix, 2019.
Fear of Rain. Directed by Castille Landon, performances by Katherine Heigl and Madison Iseman, Lionsgate, 2021.
“Getting There.” Brassic, created by Joe Gilgun, season 3, episode 1, Sky One, 2022.
“I Heard a Rumour.” The Umbrella Academy, created by Steve Blackman, season 8, episode 10, Netflix, 2019.
Kiranamita, Shabrina. “The Portrayal of Malignant Narcissm in the Villain Characters of Disney Movies.” Linguistics and Literature Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, 2021, pp. 33-40. Web.
Mancine, Ryley. “Horror Movies and Mental Health Conditions Through the Ages.” The American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 1. 2020, p. 17. Web.
Perciaccante, Antonio, et al. “Exploring Disease Representation in Movies.” Journal of General Internal Medicine, vol. 34, no. 11. 2019, pp. 2351-2354. Web.
Words on Bathroom Walls. Directed by Thor Freudenthal, performances by Charlie Plummer and Andy GarcĂa, Roadside Attractions, 2020.