Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Panoptican and Popular Film

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Popular Communication Interactive Paper Session

Abstract

Utilizing Foucault’s ideas about madness and power, this manuscript critically analyzes three popular films in which the main character suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder--The Aviator (2004), Matchstick Men (2003) and As Good as it Gets (1997). It was found that each of these films is congruent with Foucault’s ideas about disciplining the body. As people are continually defining themselves by invisible surveillance of social institutions, the tendency for self-medication or self-modification rises. Representations of normalcy are used to prescribe the structure of society. In each film, the protagonists are able to self-regulate their own mental illness with structures that are outside of institutional control. In essence, the mental health of each character resides in an internal panoptical struggle between Obsessive-compulsive disorder and normalcy. Each character “cures” himself without help from any medical or psychological help. Thus, each act as a prisoner with behaviors that are controlled by the unseen definitions of accepted behaviors. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is co-opted and “cured” by effective self-regulation rather than situated within other more realistic solutions to this overwhelming problem.

Author

• Sean Baker, Central Michigan University