Alexandra Busbin Busbin 1

Mrs. DeBock

English IV Honors

23 February 2017

Essential Question: How is broadcast media portraying mentally ill people in a negative light?

Working Thesis: Broadcast media portrays mentally ill people as dangerous and as criminals.

Refined Thesis: Broadcast media portrays mentally ill people as dangerous and as criminals.

Annotated Bibliography

Anderson, M. "One Flew over the Psychiatric Unit: Mental Illness and the Media." Journal of

Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, vol. 10, no. 3, June 2003, pp. 297-306.

EBSCOhost.

Media is a present influence on society and in turn society influences media. However, if

both are uninformed on a delicate topic such as mental illness it can create a vicious cycle of

misrepresentation and misconceptions for mentally ill people. It is documented that after

watching a television documentary on mental illness the audience had no change in opinion on

mentally ill people. However, after the audience viewed One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

(1975) the audience had negative changes in attitude toward mental illness. That is because when

a film has a certain point of view that perspective can be a convincing influence. I chose this

piece because it will help me show how effectively media can influence the public.

Mullins, James. "The Power of the Media to Shape Perceptions of Mental Ill." Mental Health

Practice, vol. 17, no. 8, May 2014, p. 34. EBSCOhost.

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Classic movies such as Psycho (1960) and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975) have

created a disparaging image of mental illness however it seems as if the turn of the century has

brought about change. Films like A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Melancholia (2011) have

taken a more sympathetic look for mental illness. I chose this piece because it will provide a

counter argument that media is making progress toward accurate representation of mentally ill

people.

Parrott, Scott, and Caroline T. Parrott. "Law & Disorder: The Portrayal Of Mental Illness In U.S.

Crime Dramas." Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 59.4 (2015): 640-657.

Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

The fictional crime drama genre perpetuates harmful stereotypes about people suffering

from mental illness as more violent and dangerous than the general public. However, reasons for

violence from the mentally ill are as complex and varied as the rest of the population. The film

industry uses austere and over exaggerated images for the concept of mentally ill people while in

fact they look much like the rest of the population. This journal will help me show how fictitious

portrayals of mental illness causes harmful stigmas.

WAHL, OTTO. "Depictions of Mental Illnesses in Children's Media." Journal of Mental Health,

vol. 12, no. 3, June 2003, p. 249. EBSCOhost.

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The stigma toward mental illness has existed for decades and seems to spring in people as they

reach adulthood. In actuality its likely that this imputation is gained over time starting at

childhood. Children have a vast amount of time and an equal amount and variety of media to

occupy that time. One out of eleven prime time television shows contain a character with mental

illness. This archetype is usually depicted as unlikely to rehabilitate, aloof or disassociated,

erratic, and inadequate. I am using this article to show just how early the misconception of

mental illness is instilled in people.