Continuing our study of madness in classic and recent films, we will explore how they convey the experience of a mental illness, analyzing moments in each film that define the madness.
We will go deeply into portrayals of Hallucinations and Delusions, Depression, Mania and Grief, Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder), Autism, and the ever-fascinating Psychopathic Personality Disorder.
We will also look at how psychotherapy is portrayed in film, addressing the question of why it is so difficult to get it right.
We will be watching an array of new films (in full outside of class, or as "Other Vision" clips in class) such as Black Swan, Take Shelter, Rain Man, Sybil, The Dark Knight, Purple Noon (Plein soleil), and Hitchcock`s Spellbound. A few of the films, such as Through a Glass Darkly, and Ordinary People, will be familiar from past Madness courses; an opportunity to see what else they can teach us.
For the first time we will be including streaming series, such as The Sopranos, Homeland, The United States of Tara, Ripley, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and The Leftovers.
Another change that will enrich our discussions: each week you will be watching two films on your own, giving us further opportunities to explore the different ways they portray that week`s madness.
Since I will be reviewing basic concepts as we go, new participants should be at no disadvantage. However, I would strongly recommend that you read the relevant chapters in my book for an overview of the essential nature of each week`s Madness.
We will discover, again, that "reading" a film can be as absorbing as watching it.

Requirement: In addition to the class session, participants will be expected to view two featured films each week independently, before class.


COURSE FORMAT
This is an interactive online seminar course that meets weekly over 6 weeks. Live online sessions will use the zoom platform. Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. Weekly sessions will be recorded and available for registered participants to access throughout the course.
There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.

COURSE MATERIALS
In addition to the class session, participants will be expected to view the two featured films for each week independently, before class.
These can be found on streaming services or can be rented/bought through other sources.

Recommended Reading: available at your local library or bookshop ​

Madness at the Movies, Understanding Mental Illness through Film James Charney M.D. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023

​These textbooks are also available to rent online
Abnormal Psychology, 9th edition Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, McGraw-Hill
Abnormal Psychology 15th edition Kring and Johnson, Wiley
Additional reading materials may be supplied by the instructor.
Registrants will receive access to the course website and the zoom links about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to September 29. After September 29, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.

Photo: Movie image Peeping Tom Directed by Michael Powell written by Leo Marks 1960