Broadcast: 30-31st July 2022

Duration: 6h

Psychotherapy is not a straightforward process to depict in popular culture. It is common in film and television to see successful treatment emerging from unexpected and sensational catharsis, or unearthing deep secrets; sometimes widespread misconceptions appear about psychotherapy for dramatic effect.

In this course, we will look at examples of shrinks on screen — portrayals of mental health professionals in cinema and TV. We will critically examine ‘head doctor’ tropes, and identify iconic therapy sessions in movies and TV that convincingly represent the challenges and effectiveness of the talking cure.

Advance viewing is optional. Brief film scenes will be shown during the course.

Session 1 – Film

  • Spellbound (1945) dir. Alfred Hitchcock
  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) dir. Miloš Forman
  • Ordinary People (1980) dir. Robert Redford
  • Deconstructing Harry (1998) dir. Woody Allen
  • Girl, Interrupted (1999) dir. James Mangold
  • Antichrist (2009) dir. Lars von Trier
  • A Therapy (2012) dir. Roman Polanski
  • Joker (2019) dir. Todd Phillips

Session 2 – Television

  • Frasier (1993–2004)
  • The Sopranos (1999–2007)
  • Mad Men (2007-2015)
  • In Treatment (2008–2010)
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
  • Mr. Robot (2015–2019)
  • Big Little Lies (2017-)
  • Gypsy (2017)

 

PROJECTIONS is psychoanalysis for film interpretation. PROJECTIONS empowers film spectators to express subjective associations they consider to be meaningful. Expertise in psychoanalytic theory is not necessary – the only prerequisite is the desire to enter and inhabit the imaginary world of film, which is itself a psychoanalytic act. MARY WILD (@psycstar), a Freudian cinephile from Montreal, is the creator of PROJECTIONS.

 

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