Midterm Project Proposal
Mental health has always been a topic that intrigued me. The idea of the mind and how people process things differently is interesting and I believe there is yet to be various research done on this. For this reason, I have decided to make a blog regarding different type of mental illnesses and how is it viewed in America. This interest regarding the mind has led me to choose my major which is in Psychology. Mental health and how the mind works is a complex topic which has been gaining more attention in our society today. Although mental health is gaining attention, there is unfortunately still stigmas surrounding illnesses as well as lack of awareness regarding the subject. My goal of this project is to address the truth behind these mental illnesses, what they really are and not, the stigmas, and how it is viewed in the United States and other parts of the world. I also want to address how mental health is diagnosed in the United States and how it is treated through therapy and medication. I also want students to be informed on all types of illnesses and how they affect people in everyday life. I believe there has been a lot of news recently regarding mental health and I want to address it. Also by relating my project back to the United States, I believe a lot of people including us can relate back to these problems and how they occur throughout life.
For my project, I have decided to depict mental illness, the variety forms, and how it is viewed specifically in the United States. I will use different artists and authors who have made work regarding mental illness and how it has possibly affected them. I will use a variety of sources for my project and images. I have decided to make a blog that is easily accessible with a lot of pictures to intrigue my audience more. I will include statistics about psychiatric drugs and how they are overprescribed throughout the United States, as well as the definitions of therapy and different type of treatments.
One of the first artists I choose is Louis Wain. He was a prominent artist in London in the late 1800’s. He was known for his anthropomorphic drawings, which basically means giving human traits to something nonhuman. His best known works include his obsession with cats, where he would draw them in everyday situations doing human things. In psychology, “Anthropomorphic drawings are a cognitive process by which people use their schemas about other humans as a basis for inferring the properties of non-human entities in order to make efficient judgements about the environment, even if those inferences are not always accurate” (Hutson 165). Also “Anthropomorphism can also function as a strategy to cope with loneliness when other human connections are not available” (Epley 864). The anthropomorphic drawings began when his beloved wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Near the end of her life, which was also tragically only after being married 3 years, they got a cat named Peter. This lifted Emily’s spirits, which made Louis happy and he began drawing the cat in human scenarios. After her death, he kept on with the tradition. This is where his mental health began to decline. By the time he got old however, he was indeed admitted into a psychiatric ward due to his possible schizophrenia. He kept on drawing and it was at these times that he was the happiest and most compliant. He was eventually released but this just shows how important art is and how interconnected it is with human psychology.
Another artist I chose for this project is the author John Green. John Green has written numerous young adult novels, but one of his most recent Turtles All The Way Down, touches upon the mental illness of obsessive compulsive disorder. John Green uses his main character, Aza, to depict this illness. He uses her to demonstrate the treatments she goes through, as well as her thought processes throughout the novel. John Green also uses his art to deal with his own problems with anxiety and the constant negative thoughts he faces. He uses his art to portray characters with mental illness and in the end he is dealing with his own internal conflicts.
The other artists I have chosen are Jayoon Choi, photographer Roger Ballen, and Kim Noble. Each of these individuals artwork reflects the mind, personal struggles, etc. I will use these artists as examples when discussing different types of mental illnesses, and how they involve themselves in their work and the idea of the mind.
Overall, the goal of my project and blog is to inform people on how mental health is viewed in the United States, what it is, the stigmas, and the various treatments. I plan on making my blog easy to read and follow along to. I will use different pictures, artwork, facts and statistics to further prove and support my goals.
Louis Wain's Artwork
John Greene's Book, Turtles All the Way Down.
Jayoon Choi's work
Kim Noble's art
Roger Ballens Photography
Louis Wain's Artwork
John Greene's Book, Turtles All the Way Down.
Jayoon Choi's work
Kim Noble's art
Roger Ballens Photography
References
Epley, Nicholas; Waytz, Adam; Cacioppo, John T. (2007). "On seeing human: A three-factor theory of anthropomorphism". Psychological Review. 114 (4): 864–886.
Hutson, Matthew (2012). The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane. New York: Hudson Street Press. pp. 165–81.
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