research question 1

 

The Tragic Figure:

      A brooding solitary figure who usually succumbs in the end to his or her mental health struggles.

• ·         Example: Holden Caulfield; J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye

The Villainous Figure:

• ·         Shows a character that is unstable or dangerous, used for plot purposes to create tension or conflict.
• ·         Example: Joker; Various Batman Adaptations 
  
  
  

Comic Relief Figure:

• ·         Used for comic relief, he is portrayed as eccentric or quirky, and that helps in downplaying the seriousness of the illness.
• ·         Example: Phoebe Buffay from "Friends". 
  
  
  

More Realistic Portrayals:

In the last few years, there has been a growing trend toward more realistic and nuanced representations of depression and loneliness in media. Examples include:

Television Shows:

• §  "BoJack Horseman"
• §  "Fleabag"
• §  "This Is Us"
• §  Movies:
• §  "Silver Linings Playbook"
• §  "It's Kind of a Funny Story"
• §  "Melancholia"

Literature:

• §  "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
• §  "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk

• These portrayals can sometimes go on to explain the intricacies in mental health through themes of isolation, anxiety, and the inability to seek help. It is when more realistic and sensitive depictions are made that media helps alleviate stigma and fosters open discussion on mental health.