Presentation Type
Research Study
Release Option
Event
Description
.
Abstract
In order to understand the world around us, many people turn to the media. While this may be harmless in some contexts, turning to edited actor portrayals of those with mental illness has the potential to be harmful (or helpful) to those in the real world who are diagnosed with the mental illness that may be displayed on screen. Cultivation theory tells us that heavy media consumers tend to perceive the world’s social realities as they are presented in the media they consume. This theory was the basis on which this content analysis rested. This analysis looked for symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder that the title character displayed in the show Bojack Horseman. The effects before and after the displayed symptoms, including other characters and the environment around him, were considered when determining whether this portrayal could be harmful or helpful to viewers. While enough symptoms were found to constitute a diagnosis, several limitations must be considered when interpreting the results of this analysis.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Jeff Riley
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of Communication Arts
Location
Room 2030
Symposium Year
2023
An Overdose of Horsen' Around: A Content Analysis of Bojack Horseman
Room 2030
In order to understand the world around us, many people turn to the media. While this may be harmless in some contexts, turning to edited actor portrayals of those with mental illness has the potential to be harmful (or helpful) to those in the real world who are diagnosed with the mental illness that may be displayed on screen. Cultivation theory tells us that heavy media consumers tend to perceive the world’s social realities as they are presented in the media they consume. This theory was the basis on which this content analysis rested. This analysis looked for symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder that the title character displayed in the show Bojack Horseman. The effects before and after the displayed symptoms, including other characters and the environment around him, were considered when determining whether this portrayal could be harmful or helpful to viewers. While enough symptoms were found to constitute a diagnosis, several limitations must be considered when interpreting the results of this analysis.
