Issue 16 Preaching and Mental HealthBlog | God in the movies Hollywood therapy
God in the movies Hollywood therapy
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 26.09.18
God in the movies Hollywood therapy Damaris Media Autumn 2018
We go to the cinema to escape from life. Whatever awfulness is unfolding in the news, in our own homes or even in our own heads, the dark space in front of the screen can be a sanctuary. Film can take us to worlds far away from our problems, and cheer us up for a valuable few hours.
Conversely, though, we also watch films to confront life. The truly resonant stories are the ones which offer something beyond short-term distraction – the resources to face our problems, or the comfort of knowing we are not alone in whatever we’re going through.
Films can be a form of therapy. Hollywood’s record when it comes to tackling mental health itself, however, is a decidedly mixed bag. Countless biopics and dramas romanticise mental illness (be it depression, schizophrenia, OCD or addiction) as an unavoidable by-product of genius. ‘Madness’ can be darkly glamorous, even sexy; it can be a thrilling final-act twist; it can be a terrifying aberration, provenance of axe-murderers; in a certain brand of dramedy it can even be an adorable quirk. But how often is mental health explored in a way that’s helpful for those who need it most?
