Metaphors of Mental Illness in Graphic Medicine

This book explores how graphic medicine can help people with mental illnesses visualize their internal mindscape and reclaim their voice by challenging stereotypes and prejudices. It uses Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory to demonstrate that mentally ill people are often represented as exaggerated or romanticized, and disparaged as emotionally drained and unreasonable. The study also aims to unsettle the sanity/insanity binary and its related patterns of normal/abnormal, depersonalizing the mentally ill by critically analyzing seven graphic narratives on mental illness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 140 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the profound realm of graphic medicine, exploring its remarkable ability to empower individuals suffering from mental illness to gain a deeper understanding of their internal mindscape through visual metaphors. By reclaiming their voice amidst stereotyped and prejudiced assumptions about mental illness as a disease of deviance and violence, graphic medicine offers a transformative path toward healing and empowerment.

In this insightful exploration, the study employs Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) to uncover the vast spectrum of experiences associated with mental illness, a relatively undertheorised area within the realm of medical humanities. The primary objective is to challenge the prevalent representations of mentally ill individuals, which often veer between grotesque exaggeration and overly romanticised portrayals across various media and biomedical discourses. Furthermore, these individuals have been stigmatised as emotionally drained, unreasonable, and incapable of engaging in active social interactions, perpetuating the notion that they are antithetical to the healthy and sane society.

Moreover, the study aims to dismantle the sanity/insanity binary and its associated patterns of fixed categories of normal/abnormal, which depersonalise individuals suffering from mental illness by critically analysing seven graphic narratives on mental illness. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the book offers a powerful testament to the resilience and creativity of those who navigate the complexities of mental illness, providing a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, and anyone seeking to better understand and support this vulnerable population.

Weight: 202g
Dimension: 214 x 139 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032163505