New Narratives of Madness in Popular US Television
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Abstract
This article examines a 2010s wave of US primetime television shows centered around the experiences of mad or distressed characters. Drawing upon research in critical disability and mad studies, the article identifies positive trends in US media surrounding mental disability, distress, and medication. Although the portrayals of madness in the shows discussed are complex and not without issue, this article argues that these series make space for alternative narratives of madness in popular culture that do not rely wholly on stereotypes of crime, genius, or violence.
Contributor Notes
Hayley C. Stefan, PhD (she/her) is a visiting assistant professor of English at the College of the Holy Cross. Her teaching and research focus on the relationship between disability and race in contemporary, children's and young adult literature and media, and across the digital humanities. You can view her recent work in College Literature, Disability Studies Quarterly, Research on Diversity in Youth Literature, and on her website, www.hayleystefan.org.