Film Analysis: Beautiful Mind

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Recommended: Research on media portrayal of mental illness research paper

Movies and other forms of popular entertainment sources have often presented varied information and as well as misinformation about schizophrenia, most specifically in regard to its negative portrayals, which can lead to confused public opinion. In summary, majority of movies and popular entrainment media sources portrays people with schizophrenia as violent and with homicidal and suicide thoughts. In addition, most characters in these media sources are portrayed as Caucasians, males, and with supernatural abilities (Gaebel, 2011).
In the movie A Beautiful Mind, schizophrenia is portrayed as a very severe and debilitating mental condition that makes it difficult for the affected individual to think logically or behave normally. The movie portrays schizophrenia as a split personality or multiple personality disorder, and this is contrary to reality that perceives schizophrenia as psychoses that result from disruption of the normal balance of emotions and thinking (Mueser & Jeste, 2008). The movie explains how a prodigy by the name John Nash develops the condition, how the condition progresses, and how his personal life is affected. The movie leaves a significant impact on the viewer especially when it depicts the severe signs and symptoms associated with schizophrenia (A beautiful Mind). Similar to reality and popular beliefs, this condition exhibits terrifying and dreadful symptoms that are characterized with hallucinations that lead the protagonist to create imaginary friends such as Parcher, Marcee, and Charles, and delusions that see him believing that America is under attack from the Soviet Union and he must decipher an encryption of an enemy’s intricate telecommunication (Michael, 2013). Just like in reality, this condi...

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...corporating behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive programs such as social and vocational training that helps the affected patients to socialize and work normally.

References
Gaebel, W. (2011). Schizophrenia: Current Science and Clinical Practice. New York: John Wiley and Sons..
Grazer, B. (producer) & Howard, R. (Director). (2001). A beautiful Mind [Motion Pictures]. U.S : Universal Pictures.
Foster, G. (Producer) & Wright, J. (Director) (2009). The Soloist. U.S. Universal Pictures
Greco, J. (Director) (2006). Canvas. U.S. Screen Media Films.
Jones, S.C. (Director), & Jones, D, Broadbent, G. (Producers). Some Voices. U.K. Film Four Distributors.
Michael, G. (2013). Commentary on “Cognition in schizophrenia.” European Neuropsychopharmacology, 23(8);786-787.
Mueser, K. & Jeste, D. (2008). Clinical Handbook of Schizophrenia. New York: The Guilford Press.

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