"Are You Insane‽": Mental Illness and Cinematic Climaxes, Poster 32, MBH 331

Even if you aren't yet aware of its presence, you’ve definitely witnessed this trope in both television and movies alike: the dastardly villain reveals his twisted motivations and machinations to the uninformed protagonist,... [ view full abstract ]

Even if you aren't yet aware of its presence, you’ve definitely witnessed this trope in both television and movies alike: the dastardly villain reveals his twisted motivations and machinations to the uninformed protagonist, who responds with some accusation of madness. Through many years of cinematic conditioning, we have collectively come to see this point in the story as climatic. You’re Insane! is video art decollage that combines clips from well-known films and television shows that effectively ‘speak’ to each other in the style of Christian Marclay’s Telephones, essentially skewering the cliche in a humorous and engaging manner by removing it from its contextually-bound storyline. Spenser Wise initially conceived of the idea for You’re Insane! while taking a video art class and finding inspiration in the compilation of existing images. Through this piece, the artist seeks to illuminate how the cinematic reliance on the outdated trope of ‘craziness’ as villainy both alters how we, the audience, perceive mental illness and validates how society at large understands ‘insanity.’ From light hearted action comedies to the darkest of thrillers, the trope is as ubiquitous as the misconceptions about mental illness itself.