METHODOLOGY
Several scholars from the mental health sector have called upon media practitioners to educate themselves on the issue of representations of mental illness, and to work towards reducing the stigma that surrounds it (Nairn & Coverdale, 2011; Oostdyk, 2005; Diefenbach & West, 2007; Pirkis et al., 2006; Goodwin, 2014). Using an interpretivist ontology to guide my research, the creative artefact is Hysterical, a practice-based television pilot featuring three women, who all live with some form of mental illness. I have sought to portray mental illness in a realistic, positive way, through my use of key narrative, character, and structural features. I have conducted critical analyses of the pilot episodes of My Mad Fat Diary (Earl & …show more content…
(Reference) This genre of drama has been chosen because – unlike the procedural drama – this genre allows me, the writer, to explore issues through my characters, revolving around mental illness, and also issues modern women experience, including professional and educational pressures, romantic and platonic relationships, and societal …show more content…
This gives writers the opportunity not just to create characters with mental illness, but explore their lives beyond their conditions.
When I’ve seen mental health things in the past, the person has just been about being mentally ill. Whereas Rae wants to get laid, be popular have a good time and she just happens to be mentally ill. That is brilliantly encapsulated by the script and by the cast and that for me is the most important thing. That people in psychiatric wards still want to live a life. (Earl in Wightman, 2014).
The pilot episode of My Mad Fat Diary follows Rae as she leaves hospital and attempts to get used to life outside the institution. Rae’s mental illness is not the focus of the plot, but rather an obstacle Rae must continually overcome in order to progress the story; coming to terms with her body image issues in order to attend a pool party, for
Several scholars from the mental health sector have called upon media practitioners to educate themselves on the issue of representations of mental illness, and to work towards reducing the stigma that surrounds it (Nairn & Coverdale, 2011; Oostdyk, 2005; Diefenbach & West, 2007; Pirkis et al., 2006; Goodwin, 2014). Using an interpretivist ontology to guide my research, the creative artefact is Hysterical, a practice-based television pilot featuring three women, who all live with some form of mental illness. I have sought to portray mental illness in a realistic, positive way, through my use of key narrative, character, and structural features. I have conducted critical analyses of the pilot episodes of My Mad Fat Diary (Earl & …show more content…
(Reference) This genre of drama has been chosen because – unlike the procedural drama – this genre allows me, the writer, to explore issues through my characters, revolving around mental illness, and also issues modern women experience, including professional and educational pressures, romantic and platonic relationships, and societal …show more content…
This gives writers the opportunity not just to create characters with mental illness, but explore their lives beyond their conditions.
When I’ve seen mental health things in the past, the person has just been about being mentally ill. Whereas Rae wants to get laid, be popular have a good time and she just happens to be mentally ill. That is brilliantly encapsulated by the script and by the cast and that for me is the most important thing. That people in psychiatric wards still want to live a life. (Earl in Wightman, 2014).
The pilot episode of My Mad Fat Diary follows Rae as she leaves hospital and attempts to get used to life outside the institution. Rae’s mental illness is not the focus of the plot, but rather an obstacle Rae must continually overcome in order to progress the story; coming to terms with her body image issues in order to attend a pool party, for