QUESTION: Psychology through literature and film

[Lindsay Lombardi]

I'm interested in doing a Unit on Literature and Film that deals with psychological themes, issues, illnesses.

I already have some basics, but I'd love a few short stories or film/documentary ideas to add.


Any thoughts?

-Lindsay

[Ryan Goble]

Oh my - this is a big ? - to start check out Reel Therapy: How Movies Inspire You to Overcome Life's Problems, Reel Fulfillment: A 12-Step Plan for Transforming Your Life Through Movies, Positive Psychology At The Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and..., and Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology.

Here is a 2002 list USING FILM TO TEACH PSYCHOLOGY: A RESOURCE OF FILM STUDY GUIDES. You might also cross post your question in the teach with Moving Images group!

RRG:)

[marian grana]

These books seem to be great.....Do they exist in pdf format?????.....I didn't know there were books like these.

[Ryan Goble]

I don't think they are digital yet - but you can always check via nook, kindle, iPad stores and Google Books.

[Lisa Fink]

Here is a link to a lesson plan on ReadWriteThink.org: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/supe.... It is titled "Id, Ego, and Superego in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat".

Good luck!

[marian grana]

This is a great material....Favolous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ryan Goble]

Here is a collection of responses collected from Lindsay's cross post over in the Teach with Moving Images group:

• A Beautiful Mind comes to mind. How about One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest?

• http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/watch-online/
Check out this website for documentaries. There is a category just for psychology videos. I've used it several times in psych and sociology...great stuff.

• What about Awakenings with Robin Williams? Costanzo has a chapter about it in his book Reading the Movies.

•Memento - Memory - There is a short story, "Memento Mori" as well.
Rainman - Autism
Silence of the Lambs - Various psycholgical issues
The Truman Show - What is reality?

• Ohh, see this cool new blog post Wire Mothers: Harry Harlow and the Science of Love

[Wilma Logue]

Lindsay, since I do not know wat level you are working with, I cannot be specific. But how about doing "Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. My students really liked the story paired with the Ingred Bergman film Gaslight. We had some lively discussion.
Wilma Logue

[Lorraine Caplan]

Hi, Lindsay,

I would have to say that Ordinary People, both book and movie, is one of the meatiest psychological texts I have ever encountered. A book that might be of interest to you is The Film Club, by David Gilmore. The author, in an effort to engage his disaffected teenage son, offers him a chance to avoid school in exchange for consenting to watch movies with him. It is a beautiful book, with considerable insight into the psychology of the teen years.

[Lea Hansen]

http://www.psychmovies.com/

[Erin Fratella]

I use the Royal Tenebaums as a character study after the AP Test.  The kids LOVE it and it works really well as a reference to all parts of an intro course.  I have an assignment made up if anyone would like it.