Split and Stereotyping

***This posting has spoilers for the film "Split"***

Last weekend I went to see the film "Split", which is about disassociative identity disorder  (DID) or is still commonly known as multiple personality disorder. For many of us, we think of the book "Sybil" back in the 70s then later the film featuring Sally Field as the client, Sybil. However, interestingly, the client admitted years later that she faked her diagnosis.  Although DID as a diagnosis is fairly uncommon although the phenomena of disassociating is more common that we think due to stress, trauma or even illness.

As I watched the film, it was clear to me that there was a significant amount of stereotyping to depict the different identities such as "Barry" who liked to design clothes and had an affect that would be stereotyped as "gay." Another is that the film was reinforcing the belief that mental illness is over-the-top and beyond repair. Also that mental illness leads to violence and chaos for the client and for those around the client. Think of it, the client kidnaps and kills 2 out of the 3 girls and also kills his therapist!

On the one hand I appreciated that the film used the correct terminology for the disorder. On the other hand, it simply reinforced all the worst fears that the general public has about mental illness. I'm waiting for the day that Hollywood gets this right...



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