Description
Book SynopsisThe stigmatization of mental illness in film has been well documented in literature. Little has been written, however, about the ability of movies to portray mental illness sympathetically and accurately. People Like Ourselves: Portrayals of Mental Illness in the Movies fills that void with a close look at mental illness in more than seventy American movies, beginning with classics such as The Snake Pit and Now, Voyager and including such contemporary successes as A Beautiful Mind and As Good as It Gets. Films by legendary directors Billy Wilder, William Wyler, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and John Cassavetes are included. Through the examination of universal themes relating to one''s self and society, the denial of reality, the role of women, creativity, war, and violence, Zimmerman argues that these ground-breaking films defy stereotypes, presenting sympathetic portraits of people who are mentally ill, and advance the movie-going public''s understanding of mental illness, while providing insight into its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. More importantly, they portray mentally ill people as ordinary people with conflicts and desires common to everyone. Like the motion pictures it revisits, this fascinating book offers insight, entertainment, and a sense of understanding.
Trade ReviewPeople Like Ourselves should interest movie buffs and physicians looking for positive portrayals of mental illness. * JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1. The Price of Conformity: The False Self Chapter 4 2. The Denial of Reality Chapter 5 3. Hitchcock, Chaos, and the Devils of Unreason Chapter 6 4. Women Who Can't Forget Chapter 7 5. Divine Madness: Poets, Prophets, and Demons Chapter 8 6. War: A Battle for the Mind and Spirit Chapter 9 7. Violence and Mental Illness: A Good Movie Is Hard to Find Chapter 10 Notes Chapter 11 Sources Cited Chapter 12 Films Discussed and/or Cited Chapter 13 Index Chapter 14 About the Author
