Miriam Markowitz's 'Madness In The Method'

Within the time of its existence, part of television's purpose has been to craft stories in which a connection to reality isn’t the main goal. Miriam Markowitz’s “Madness in the Method” delves into this idea by analyzing the fanciful portrayal of mental illness on-screen. In her article, Markowitz finds fault in this and suggests that such depictions perpetuate the stigma of mental illness and further complicate the lives of its sufferers.
The espionage thriller Homeland follows Carrie Mathison, an agent in the CIA that battles bipolar disorder, a mental illness that affects all facets of her life. The story focuses on her internal struggle as she grapples with her sanity while being one of the agency’s most cunning agents. The pure nature

of the show seems to teeter between Carrie’s mission going awry or her having a psychotic break. Homeland is inspired by an Israeli television series Hatufim, a Hebrew word that translates to abductees. It chronicles the lives of two Israeli soldiers, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after being held captive for almost two decades, as they work to reestablish their roles in society. The series takes a poignant approach to mental illness; the characters deal with loss and family dynamics, whereas Homeland, a thriller, stress the reality of Carrie’s disease by putting her under pressure in suspenseful and action packed situations. Markowitz's implies that while the exuberant plot is entertaining, it is misleading and by way of contrast, the characters of Hatufim are dealing with issues much more realistic and relatable for people dealing with the same or similar disease.
The Americans With Disabilities Act protects the mentally ill from being discriminated against in the workplace so long as the illness is disclosed. The looming worry of being viewed as unstable or “crazy” due to that disclosure, has caused people to adopt a cloak of invisibility simply to keep their jobs. If their fears are realized however, people with mental illness face discouraging odds in finding new employment. The unemployment rate of people with mental disorders are 60 to 80 percent and that number increases to 90 percent the more severe the illness is. Still, the number of the mentally ill that are violent are few and far. Statistics such as these alarm Markowitz because in reality, there is great importance with working with the mentally ill that is prevented by their unemployment.
Stigmas are often maintained by fear. Mental illness can be strange and inconceivable to the general public and as the media promotes its negative aspects, it is no secret why many follow suit to Carrie and do their best to hide their illness. Early on in the series, a brush with death finds Carrie in a mental institution where conditions are frightening and patients are irritable and difficult. She’s met with no empathy upon return and faces judgment from her mentor and colleagues, something Markowitz says is a very realistic tragedy for actual people. It is true that efforts are being made to educate and inform people about mental illnesses. Markowitz’s calls films like Silver Linings Playbook, in which the main character has bipolar disorder, a “mixed blessing.” It may succeed in lessening the stigma, but it also works to create light of real struggles. Even so, Markowitz can't discount the film’s potential to help bring out the empathy it seems so few people receive in the real world.