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Boundary Crossing of Sanity and Insanity

Boundary Crossing of Sanity and Insanity. Chin Chang, Christina Chen Zaes Chen, Linda Chien . Introduction. Film: Girl, Interrupted directed by James Mangold (released in 1999) Based on Girl, Interrupted written by Susanna Kaysen

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Boundary Crossing of Sanity and Insanity

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  1. Boundary Crossing of Sanity and Insanity Chin Chang, Christina Chen Zaes Chen, Linda Chien

  2. Introduction • Film: Girl, Interrupted directed by James Mangold (released in 1999) • Based on Girl, Interrupted written by Susanna Kaysen (1967 McLean, 2 yrs) • Title: from the painting Girl, Interrupted at her music by Johannes Vemeer

  3. Summary • Sent to Claymoore and diagnosed as BPD (borderline personality disorder), Susanna started her journey of self-discovery with friends she met there. The question remains “Is she sane or insane?”

  4. Sane or Insane? (Susanna Kaysen) (monologue) “Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.”

  5. Sane or Insane? (Susanna)

  6. Sane or Insane? (Daisy) Diagnosis: Eating disorder and other unspecified Symptoms: Eating in private, father’s chicken only, keeping bones under bed, attempted suicide (later after moved out) Claims: Eating=Dumping (privacy—sexual implication) Possible causes: Incest (father)  Suicide (button being pressed)

  7. Sane or Insane? (Lisa Rowe) Diagnosis: Sociopath Symptoms: Indifference, disregard for the consequences... Susanna: “Her eyes are empty now”

  8. Sane or Insane? (Georgina Tuskin) Diagnosis: Pathological liar (“my father is the head of CIA”) Susanna: “lies to people who went to keep her here…live Oz forever.”

  9. Sane or Insane? (Polly Clark) Diagnosis: Unspecified Symptom: Refuse to grow up Possible Cause: Childhood trauma • Innocent? • Curious about sex trigger her memory Susanna: “sweetness and purity aren’t genuine at all, but a desperately attempt to make it easier for us to look at her”

  10. Dependence • Susanna: family  Lisa Independence • Lisa: institution; others’ dependence. • Daisy: med; chicken; her father. • Polly: doll; Ruby • Georgina: Lisa

  11. Social Backgrounds • 50s -- relatively conservative  “viewed their children's world with alarm and confusion and embraced few of the cultural changes.” • 60s – Peace, love and sex. -- Anti-war  hippy -- Rise of feminism • 70s  Conservative

  12. Social Influences • Female having many opportunities? Pro.’s wife: “Women should make up their mind.” Teacher: “What do you plan to do?” “Women nowadays have more choices.”, S: “No they don’t.” Susanna is forced to make a choice. • Bias on females: Definition of “promiscuity” • Education

  13. Treatments Medicine: Necessary?  abused in treatment  cause abuse (addiction) Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) / Seclusion: Punishment? ETC: possible permanent amnesia. damaging neurons

  14. Treatments • Hospitalization: Necessity?  Susanna Admission  Voluntary? Right to leave? Discharge qualification?  Daisy (Pretending: “Purple people”) Standardized management: (medicine administration, name calling, room checks, indifferent attitude and R area.)

  15. Treatments • Counseling: (“The-rapist,” “their-rape-me,” “diag-non-sense,” criticizing Freudian therapy.) Dr. Melvin: unsuccessful, without understanding patients. Dr. Wick: understanding, insightful, professional

  16. Alternative Treatment • Interpersonal bonds: Nurse Valerie Sisterhood (Tunnel, Ice Cream Shop, Guitar)  Lisa (leader / violence) • Others Ruby Music Exercise Narrative therapy

  17. Turning Points (Susanna) • Toby’s visit: Susanna decides to stay (Sisterhood / Toby is not the one) • Runaway with Lisa / Returning: Start to realize: either fit into the society or self-destruction (“Jamie” / Daisy’s death / Lisa’s cruelty) • Valerie: Susanna learns to “put it away” • 2nd Tunnel: “Press others’ buttons”

  18. Conclusion • Definition of madness: Matter of degree. (blurring boundary) Social standard: majority = norm. Self realization (Wizard of Oz) (One drives oneself crazy.) Self limitation (biological, genetic, environment) “Fit in the fucked-up world”

  19. Deleted Scenes in Film • More of Susanna’s hallucination (blood flood in supermarket, boneless hands)  more normal in the film • No museum scene  no explanation to the topic • Less coincidences  Film is more realistic

  20. Fiction & Film • Going to Daisy’s house in film • Introduction Line: Fiction  self Film  society • Georgina is under-developed in the film • Ending: Seeing Lisa on the street

  21. Clips • Lisa & Daisy: pressed the button • Valerie “how it hurt smile” • Dr. Wick “ambivalence,” Dr. Melvin’s counseling

  22. Reference

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