| Selectives Type:
Medical Humanities |
Selective
Title
Psychiatry and the Cinema (BSHS Credit) |
Course Number
PSYU-4048 |
| Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Year 3 requirements |
Responsible Faculty Director:
Derek Neal, MD
Other Faculty:
Lisa Falls, MD; Dwight Wolf, MD; Michael Stone, MD; and Ruth Levine, MD
|
Contact
Information
Coordinator: Jessica Prescott (jlpresco@utmb.edu)
|
Periods
Offered
1,5,7,10,12,
excluding holiday period 8 |
Maximum
Enrollment
4 |
| Learning Objectives |
Goal: This selective will enable students to gain a better appreciation for how Hollywood movies create cultural stereotypes, romanticize boundary violations, and perpetuate misinformation about the profession of psychiatry and psychiatrists.
Objectives: By the end of the selective, students will:
1. Name the common misconceptions about psychiatry and psychiatric illness perpetuated by the media.
2. Recognize the high prevalence of boundary violations sympathetically portrayed in Hollywood portrayals of psychiatrists and psychiatric patients
3. Appreciate the potential damage to patients and providers when misinformation about psychiatry and behavioral science is perpetuated through Hollywood film.
Students will read selections from the book, Psychiatry and the Cinema (Gabbard, et al.,University of Chicago Press, 1999) and the book Media Madness: Public Images of Mental Illness (Otto Wohl, Rutgers Univ. Press, 1997). They will be directed to watch a selection of Hollywood films chosen by course faculty. Then each student will be required to find at least one film that illustrates examples of a character with emotional or behavioral problems. The student will present a critique of that film discussing his/her perception of the psychopathology of the character and how the filmmaker illustrates it--whether it is in a sympathetic and balanced way or one that is in a biased and distorted fashion. Papers will be expected to be between 1800-3000 words in length, include 5 References, Arial Font, Size 12. |
| Describe the qualifications
background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit
from the course: |
| This course would be of interest to any student who is interested in the Humanities, whether they will be specializing Psychiatry, primary care, and any other medical specialty. |
| Description of course
activities |
| Students will spend time reading, watching films, and meeting with course faculty to discuss impressions. They will be expected to take notes on the material they read and the film and to discuss the dynamics of the characters in the films as well as pass a short multiple choice exam at the end of the course. Students will read selections from the book, Psychiatry and the Cinema (Gabbard, et al.,University of Chicago Press, 1999) and the book, Media Madness: Public Images of Mental Illness (Otto Wohl, Rutgers Univ. Press, 1997). |
| Proposed time
requirement (%) for the student activities per 40-hour week: |
|
Activity |
Percent of Activity |
| Faculty
contact time |
10% |
|
Self-directed study |
20% |
| Data
collection/analysis |
|
|
Other
Watching films, Required Text: Media Madness. |
70% |
Method of student evaluation
Check all that apply - complete appropriate section(s) only:
|
1. Grading |
| |
|
| A. |
Please specify your grading criteria for outstanding performance: |
| |
Students must view all films and attend all small group seminars in person. Classes are held in both Webster and Galveston. They must turn in their final written assignment on the last day of the course. In addition to the already required written assignment, an additional written assignment, under the absence policy but NOT an additional discussion with the course director, will be required if there are more than 2 absences. Any more than 3 absences will result in the initiation of protocol as outlined in the Academic Advancement Policy. |
|
2. Written Assignment (Homework,
projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.) |
|
A. |
Frequency of written assignment(s) |
|
|
There will be one written assignment as mentioned above. |
| B. |
Type and format of written assignment |
| |
Each student will be required to find at least one film that illustrates examples of a character with emotional or behavioral problems. The student will write and present a critique of that film discussing his/her perception of the psychopathology of the character and how the filmmaker illustrates it--whether it is in a sympathetic and balanced way or one that is in a biased and distorted fashion. Students should be prepared to discuss the film with his/her peers the last week of the selective. The final written paper will be expected to be between 1800-3000 words in length, include 5 References, Arial Font, Size 12. |
| C. |
Method of content selection (student-selected,
assigned, relate to cases, etc.) |
| |
Students will select the film but it must be approved by the course director. |
|
3. Oral Presentation |
| |
A. |
Frequency / duration of presentation(s)? |
| |
|
While there are no formal presentations, students will be expected to lead one discussion regarding an optional movie of their choice which depicts symptoms of mental illness. In addition, they are expected to participate in discussions facilitated by faculty. Meeting with faculty will take place after independently watching each film, approximately 3-4 times weekly. |
| |
B. |
Type and format of presentation |
| |
|
Students should be prepared to facilitate a discussion of the film they choose at the end of the rotation. They may do this in however they see fit but are not required to present materials. The final written product will be expected to be between 1800-3000 words in length, include 5 References, Arial Font, Size 12. |
| |
D. |
Assessment - Who assesses the student's
presentation performance? |
| |
|
 Self-assessment
Peer
assessment
 Faculty
assessment |
| |
E. |
Method of content selection |
| |
|
Student-selected
topic
Assigned
topic |
|
4. Professionalism |
| |
What expectations do you have for the
student to demonstrate participation in the elective (e.g. small group
activities, seminars, thoughtful questions, providing resources, journal
club, resident lecture attendance)?
The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and
the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected
to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work
must be solely the student’s own. |
| |
|
I expect students to attend all activities, including films and seminars. All students should come prepared with notes for seminars. They should discuss delicate issues such as boundary violation in a professional fashion. The students are expected to understand and adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the students own. |
|
5. Other Modes of Evaluation |
| |
Please explain below. |
| |
|
A written/multiple choice exam will be administered at the end of the course. |
|