Because of the media's profit-driven need to sensationalize, rare bizarre incidents are being given round-the-clock coverage, in an attempt to keep the ratings high . And as if that were not bad enough, the psycho-horror movie industry is feeding the public it's daily dose of madmen, "crazies" and maniacs. Because of this "the mentally-ill" have become society's archetypical villain and are being unjustly committed, scapegoated and even killed by law enforcement officers through out America .This paper is intended to counter the current trend of the movies to demonize "mental illness." Both promote their own versions of stigma for the same reason profit. It would, of course, be crazy for me to suggest that "the mentally-ill" don't commit acts of violence. Certainly people labeled mentally-ill are just as human as everyone else. But, it is just as ludicrous to over-emphasize the 3% who do, suggesting that "mental-illness" is synonomous with violence!.
Persuasion-by-Association.
"One of the most effective methods of non-rational persuasion is what may be called persuasion-by-association. The propagandist associates his product cause with some idea or image of a person or thing. Movies which stigmatize mental health recipients have been standard fare for Hollywood producers dating back to 1913 with D.W. Griffith's silent screen portrayal of mental illness "House of Darkness" Probably one of the first movie's ever to capture on film the public's perception of "mental illness." As fate would have it, one of the first movies ever filmed about a psychiatrist in 1919, turns out to be one of the first movies ever filmed about an escaped mental patient, who is none other than the psychiatrist himself, in the movie "When the Clouds Roll By." Another more disturbing movie directed by Dwain Esper was released in 1934 called "Maniac!" The video sleeve for this movie categorizes it as an exploitation movie.