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Truly enthralling: epileptiform events in film and on television – why do they persist and what can we do about them
- Authors:
- KERSON Toba S., KERSON Lawrence A.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 47(3), 2008, pp.320-337.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Although epileptic and other seizures have been portrayed on film since 1900, and on TV since the 1950s, their depiction has not kept pace with increased scientific understanding. As a result, most ordinary people who have never witnessed a seizure have an unrealistic view of what is involved. This study analyses 242 film and TV episodes to explore how directors use the seizure image, why images do not match contemporary scientific knowledge, and why their usage has persisted and even increased. The findings show how seizure events drive narratives, support a genre, evoke emotional reactions, highlight character traits, act as catalysts for action and enhance voyeuristic experience. The images are so enthralling that their use is likely to continue, despite their stereotypical and inaccurate nature, and those who wish to promote a more realistic portrayal will need to develop equally enthralling alternatives.