Depicting mental illness is a difficult challenge that is only exacerbated by the amount of stigma associated with it. This stigma comes as a result of the spread of harmful stereotypes that equate villainy with the divergence of the mind.
To adjust our portrayals of a sensitive topic, we should start by allowing ourselves to talk about it more often. A recent example of this practice is the #MeToo movement on social media. According to Luv Sterns’ blog on the Dunn Lab, as the “Twitter user is exposed to more disclosures, especially disclosures that contain details regarding personal experience, there is a higher chance of said user disclosing their own experience – suggesting a possible lessening of stigmas surrounding sexual violence on Twitter” (Sterns, Reducing Stigma). Through extensive research, 40% of the 1 million initial #MeToo tweets were disclosures of sexual violence. The momentum that #MeToo gained was a testament to the power of recent movements on social media to open up conversations about touchy subjects such as sexual abuse. Other social media movements like #mentalpatient also generated traction and combatted stereotyping.
Fighting stereotypes associated with topics not typically discussed in public is important in helping others understand them, as growth in understanding can, in turn, generate many benefits. In a study conducted by USC Annenberg, researchers studied the effect entertainment had in shaping the public perception and knowledge of mental health. According to Erica Rosenthal, the research showcased a “dramatic shift in mental health storytelling, away from stigmatizing language and toward more nuanced discussions of specific conditions and treatment options” (Annenberg, Positive Portrayals). This means that current efforts in this decade have changed the precipitation of such a sensitive matter. We continue to see these milestones in today's media, shifting the public perception of mental health further from its stigma. One such example is the hit Netflix show Arcane, which shines with its nuanced storytelling and portrayal of mental illness.
Arcane Season 1's key visual art.
Arcane is not just a story about Jinx, but also a highlight of pop culture’s evolution of understanding mental health. Through its art and narrative, Arcane shows its viewers a multi-faceted illustration of mental illness that stands out compared to depictions of the concept in the past. The early 20th century portrayed mental illness in a way that was associated with evil, with films such as Psycho and The Shining. Then, the latter half of that century saw small cracks in the stigma of mental illness, thanks to films such as Ordinary People and A Woman Under the Influence, which focus on PTSD, grief, and the deterioration of a person’s mental state. The 2000s saw no positive change as it focused more on the sensitization of mental illness for views. Arcane, on the other hand, opened the floor to, as well as deconstructed the romanticization of mental illness through one of the show's main characters, Jinx.
Jinx, as pictured in Arcane Season 1.
Though Arcane does not shy away from displaying Jinx as a criminal, it does show what shaped her into this person. The show's story provides a raw sequence of events, from losing her parents to accidentally killing the people she loved. Jinx, suffering from her trauma and identity crisis, finally accepts that the events of her trauma happened and cannot be changed. She accepted herself as who she is now, a force of chaos whose loved ones died around her, rather than the past identity she clung to, an innocent child dependent on her older sister.
Overall, this decade in media is a combination of the passage of time, modern movements, and creators willing to tell more complex stories about mental health. Though Arcane wasn’t the first to tell a compelling story that delicately handled the hard truth of mental illness and trauma, the show still represents a progressive movement shifting how society perceives such topics. As time moves forward, our understanding of mental health will expand further and lead to our pop culture disengaging from harmful stereotypes about mental health.
References:
Staff, Communication and Marketing. “New Research Finds an Increase in Positive Portrayals of Mental Health on TV.” New Research Finds an Increase in Positive Portrayals of Mental Health on TV | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, 31 May 2024, annenberg.usc.edu/news/research-and-impact/new-research-finds-increase-positive-portrayals-mental-health-tv.
Dunn, Erin. “Reducing Stigma with Social Media - Lessons Learned from the #MeToo Movement.” The Dunn Lab, The Dunn Lab, 29 July 2022, www.thedunnlab.com/blog/reducing-stigma-with-social-media-lessons-learned-from-the-metoo-movement.
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