Media Madness : Public Images of Mental Illness / Otto F. Wahl.
Publisher: New Brunswick : Rutgers University Press, 1997Description: 242 pages ; 23 cmContent type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volume001: BDZ0001230595ISBN: 9780813522135 :Subject(s): Media Studies
| Media studies | Media, entertainment, information & communication industries | Mental health services | United States of America, USA | Disability: social aspects | Social, group or collective psychology | Abnormal psychologySummary: This work seeks to expose the myths about mental illness and the way it is distorted by the American media. The author argues that inaccuracies about mental illness in newspapers, magazines, movies and books make it clear that this is not merely stereotyping, but rather a pervasive ignorance. This work seeks to expose the myths about mental illness and the way it is distorted by the American media. Statistics show that one out of every five people in the US will experience a psychiatric illness. The author of this book attempts to show the many ways in which false views of mental illness, purveyed in the media, shape the ways even the most enlightened of us view the world around us. He argues that inaccuracies about mental illness in newspapers, magazines, movies and books make it clear that this is not merely stereotyping, but rather a pervasive ignorance. He looks at the media's role in presenting this image.
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | MAIN LIBRARY Book | 362.2 WAH (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 114766 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
Winner of the 1996 Gustavus Myers Award for an Outstanding Book on Human Rights in North America
"Media Madness is a most timely, readable, and useful book, exposing, as it does, the myths about mental illness that most of us live by--myths that are as destructive as they are pervasive. Wahl is especially good at showing, in detail, the many ways in which false views of mental illness, purveyed in the media, shape the ways even the most enlightened of us view the world around us. A most thoughtful, stimulating book, from which I learned a great deal." --Jay Neugeboren, author of I magining Robert: My Brother, Madness, and Survival--A Memoir
"An outstanding book . . . well-researched . . . it is 'must reading.'" --Laurie Flynn, former executive director, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill "The rampant inaccuracies about mental illnesses in newspapers, magazines, movies, and books make it clear that this is not merely stereotyping, but rather a pervasive ignorance. Dr. Wahl's book goes far to explain where the errors are and to educate and sensitize the reader to frequent inaccuracies. In addition, the book is very readable." --NAMI Advocate
"What do the media have to do with one's perception of mental illness? Wahl takes an in-depth look a how unfavorable public images of mental illness are often inaccurate. Statistics show that one out of every five people in the U.S. will experience a psychiatric illness. With boldness and sensitivity, Wahl takes a powerful look at the inaccurate stereotypes created by the media."
This work seeks to expose the myths about mental illness and the way it is distorted by the American media. The author argues that inaccuracies about mental illness in newspapers, magazines, movies and books make it clear that this is not merely stereotyping, but rather a pervasive ignorance. This work seeks to expose the myths about mental illness and the way it is distorted by the American media. Statistics show that one out of every five people in the US will experience a psychiatric illness. The author of this book attempts to show the many ways in which false views of mental illness, purveyed in the media, shape the ways even the most enlightened of us view the world around us. He argues that inaccuracies about mental illness in newspapers, magazines, movies and books make it clear that this is not merely stereotyping, but rather a pervasive ignorance. He looks at the media's role in presenting this image.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Preface (p. xi)
- Chapter 1 Madness, Madness Everywhere (p. 1)
- Chapter 2 Words and Laughter (p. 14)
- Chapter 3 A Breed Apart (p. 36)
- Chapter 4 Murder and Mayhem (p. 56)
- Chapter 5 So What? (p. 87)
- Chapter 6 So, Why? (p. 110)
- Chapter 7 Future Images (p. 132)
- Chapter 8 Exit Lines (p. 164)
- Appendix A Films about Mental Illness (p. 169)
- Appendix B Television Shows about Mental Illness (p. 180)
- Appendix C Novels about Mentally Ill Killers (p. 189)
- Notes (p. 195)
- Index (p. 209)
There are no comments on this title.