1)
'Out of the box' Alexander topping (Guardian article)
In fact, as a writer revealed, the character had been "fleshed out" on the basis of a single article published in Vanity Fair.
2)
Media Portrayal of Mental Illness and its Treatments: What Effect Does it Have on People with Mental Illness?
"Mental health advocates blame the media for promoting stigma anddiscrimination toward people with a mental illness. However, the media may also be an important ally in challenging public prejudices, initiating public debate, and projecting positive, human interest stories about people who live with mental illness"
3)
Skins take on mental health is on the skids
"Skins is not alone in presenting these negative stereotypes; rarely are we shown positive or accurate depictions of mental health practitioners on screen."
4)
(Diefenbach, 1997 [citing Berlin & Malin, 1991; Gerbner, 1980; Nunnally, 1957; Wahl & Harman, 1989]).
research indicates that media portrayals of mental illness are often both false and negative.
5)
Television, madness and community care (Diana Rose - Article first published online: 4 DEC 1998)
madness has multiple meanings on television, while at the same time violence is commonly included.
6)
Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"The term itself means 'action' or 'enactment' and the notion of 'performance' is a key element"
7)
Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"drama began to incorporate elements of documentary on the one hand and to play with a range of non-realistic devices on the other"
8)
Lacey,N. "Image and representation: Key concepts in media studies" (Basningstoke: Palgrave,1998)
(Referring to BBC) "Signs itself a being 'as it really was' This is , of course , an illusion"
9)
Creeber,G. "The television genre book" (London : British Film Institute, 2003)
"There is no straight forward or singular relationship between realism and politics in soap opera. Rather , realist conventions and sensibilities are formed"
10)
Bennett,P. Slater,J. Wall,P. "A2 media studies: The essential introduction" (Oxon : Routeledge , 2006)
" 'reality' is dressed up , manufactured out of local colour and half-truths."
11)
Abercrombie,N. "Television and society" (Polity press)
"The form conspires to convince us that we are not viewing something that has been constructed"
12)
Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"Language is a mode of action that is both socially and historically shaped and shaping"
13)
Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"Do not simply offer 'neutral' descriptions of social reality - they actively work to constitute it."
14)
Lacey,N. "Image and representation: Key concepts in media studies" (Basningstoke: Palgrave,1998)
"Ideology denies itself as an ideology; In other words , it does not express itself as an ideology but as reality"
15)
Mental illness depictions in prime-time drama: Identifying the discursive resources
depicted negatively as simple or lacking in comprehension and appearing lost, unpredictable, unproductive, asocial, vulnerable, dangerous to self or others because of incompetent behaviours, untrustworthy, and social outcasts, and positively as caring or empathic.
16)
Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"While stereotypes may be partial , they are not false:they generally contain a grain of truth"
17)
Entertaining madness – representations of mental illness on screen
Love is better than tablets .In film after film love between patient and therapist is seen to bring about a cure.
18)
media blamed for stirring fear of mental illness (The independent)
"attacked the media for its portrayal of the mentally ill as causing "irrational and inaccurate alarm"
19)
Mass Media and Mental Illness: A Literature Review
When mental illness or behaviours commonly associated with mental illness are presented as a character’s main personality traits, to the exclusion of any other characteristics, the illness or behaviour becomes the only way of defining that person and the main point of the story.
Key issues and debates i will comment on:
Moral panics:
This is a key issue to bring into my critical investigation referring to the media's portrayals of the mentally ill being "dangerous" thus leading to a fear of those who are diagnosed with a mental illness.
(Reference to be used linked to this: Media Portrayal of Mental Illness and its Treatments: What Effect Does it Have on People with Mental Illness?
"Mental health advocates blame the media for promoting stigma anddiscrimination toward people with a mental illness. )
This is probably the most important issue of my critical investigation as the idea of reality in comparison to artificial representations is reflected through both representations and stereotypes. I will focus on the stereotypes of the "dangerous" "insane" when regarding the mentally ill in both Eastenders and Skins , however, such stereotypes are stronger in skins as Eastenders to a certain extent shows more realism in their representations.
(Reference to be used linked to this: Casey,B. Casey,N. Calvert,B. French,L. Lewis,J. "Televisiom studies:Key concepts" (London :Routeledge,2002)
"While stereotypes may be partial , they are not false:they generally contain a grain of truth")
Theories i will comment on:
Gender & Ethnicity:
In both of my key texts the mentally ill characters are female. This can also be seen in a number of other texts such as in Shameless and Corrination street as well as in films such as Psycho. Link in the idea that woman generally represented as passive,vulnerable - Exaggerates the signs of mental illness? People would sympathise with a woman more than a man , so therefor deem mental health as more of a threat?
Audience theories:
Hypodermic Needle - This theory can clearly be linked into my question debating reality over the artificial. Television can be seen to add to misconceptions and stereotypes making them appear as though they are reality because they are being seen directly through the television when in fact they are often entirely false.
(Referrence to be used linked to this: Lacey,N. "Image and representation: Key concepts in media studies" (Basningstoke: Palgrave,1998)
"Ideology denies itself as an ideology; In other words , it does not express itself as an ideology but as reality" )
Cultivation theory - This theory can also be linked into my question , much like the hypodermic needle theory i will focus on how attitudes of viewers are change to view mental health as a threat and something to be feared challenged by texts such as Eastenders which can be seen to quite realisticly represent such issues.
PARAGRAPH-BY-PARAGRAPH:
Introduction :
- Outline my line of arguement - In favour of the view that Dramas do present a less truthful image of mental illness , however although Soap opera's present a more real-to-life image , they too tend to over exagerate and "bulk up" symptoms to create a sense of entertainment and action.
- Present the initial idea that Soap Opera 'Eastenders' puts forth a genuine and realistic image of mental health , using the story line of Stacey Slaters Bipolar disease for support. Also refer to awards for the show by mental health charities and the relationship such charities have with creating realistic stories.
- Explore further into ideologies and stereotypes of mental illness within the soap , making reference to other British soap operas in comparison such as in Corrination Street. Also bring in historical research of 'Family Life' to act as a comparison over the years.
- Now constrast with Teen Drama 'Skins' with majority focus on Skins representations exagerating symptoms and stereotypes regarding Effy's schizophrenia. Looking at setting in specific, placing emphasis on the segregation of the mentally ill and the danger of them due to the fact she is in an institution.
- Make reference to other Dramas such as Shameless aired on E4 (The story line of Karens post-natal depression. Exploring the genre's codes and conventions and how this inevitably influences the representations created and how they are present accross such texts. Place emphasis on the exagerated and negative nature.
No comments:
Post a Comment