People of all ages have been binge watching a hit series American Horror Story day and night since it was first put on Netflix in 2011. There are currently seven seasons. Each season has its own separate story line. The miniseries that I was most intrigued by was, the sixth season, called American Horror Story: Roanoke. While watching this miniseries, I quickly realized that one of the lead characters, a mother who struggled with drug addiction and mental health issues, was outcasted and/or looked down upon by different characters. For my research, I intend to explore the reasons behind the second class portrayal of those who suffer from drug addiction and mental health issues. In addition, I will explore how films influence viewers by incorporating characters with drug addiction and/or mental health issues. My research covered a variety of different topics from how divorce affects people to the media’s influence on drug addiction.
Annotated Bibliography
“American Horror Story's Mind-Bending Experiment”
This online article, written by Spencer Kornhaber, not only gives us a summary of the events in the miniseries, but it also includes his thoughts as a viewer. It includes valid remarks and responses to the everyday viewers inquiries about the plot. Kornhaber makes the reader think more in depth about how the directors set everything up. In his article, he states, “... as you watch, you have to keep in mind the possibility that even this layer of action may be staged. Which is a funny thing to wonder about because, of course, it all is staged by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk”. This quote from the article is just one example of the way Kornhaber presents the reader with something that they may not have been thinking about while watching the miniseries. I chose this as one of my sources because it made me dig for a deeper meaning to the scenes.
“Media’s Influence on Substance Abuse in the Real World”
This online article, written by Alyssa Koenig, describes the alteration of our society’s view on drug addiction. This article mainly focuses on how films glamorize drug addiction, but ultimately leave the drug addict at “rock bottom”. Continuing the “rock bottom” topic, Koenig comments, “For some, they become aware of their addiction early and seek help from drug rehab centers voluntarily. For others, it might take longer to accept help — in which case they may actually hit rock bottom”. This is a very significant quote that I will definitely be keeping in mind while working on my adaptation. This shows that every addict has different experiences, but very few have had the one-track portrayal that most media/films have created. From this article, I will be taking the knowledge that “... everyone is different and media likes to portray addiction as a homogenous experience across the board for all recovering addicts from Los Angeles to the East Coast” (Koenig). Furthermore, I think it is very important to create content that is relatable to some (if not, most) of the readers/viewers. In addition, it it also important to keep an open mind to others experiences when creating content.
“Substance Abuse Within the Police Force”
This online article is filled with loads of information pertaining to drug addiction among police officers. Is it both enlightening and relatable to have a deeper understand to what police officers struggle with on a day to day basis. This article includes reasons why police could become addicted to drugs, treatment options, and ways to cope. In an issue of The Police Chief (that was shown on my chosen article) Robin Kroll, PsyD, states, “When officers struggle with addiction, it is critical that they take time away from the job. Medical leave allows officers to fully concentrate on recovery, which includes gaining insight to the root of their addiction, learning new healthy coping strategies, and identifying triggers that have led or could lead to a relapse”. From this article, I have gained a better understanding as to why police would develop a drug addiction. It really eased my mind to know that there are so many different ways to help/treat those officers before sending them back to their job. I am using this source because the character that I am going to be focusing on the most, throughout my adaptation, was a former police sheriff before she began her drug addiction. Therefore, it only made sense for me to get a better understand as to how that may have happened.
“Criminalization of Mental Illness”
This informative online article, created by the Treatment Advocacy Center, talks about the fact that people who suffer from mental health disorders are put into jail cells and prisons rather than hospitals to treat them. It explains, “Deinstitutionalization, outdated treatment laws demanding a person become violent before intervention, discriminatory federal Medicaid funding practices and the prolonged failure by states to fund their mental health systems drive those in need of care into the criminal justice and corrections systems, rather than into the public health system where they belong”. I chose to use this resource as an additional source of mental health disorder information. This text made me realize just how important treatment is to mental health disorder patients. The article states, “Criminalizing mental illness worsens the health of hundreds of thousands of people and complicates their recovery by creating additional barriers to housing and employment. It burdens law enforcement and correctional systems. In the process, it costs taxpayers countless dollars”. In conclusion, there is no benefit to anyone involved.
“ ‘AHS: Roanoke’ takes fans on a bizarre ride” *
In this scholarly reviewed article, it goes in depth on the story line, creation, and director thoughts of American Horror Story: Roanoke. It makes contradictions to some scenes of the miniseries, which gives the reader a different perspective. It argues, “The second half is painful to watch, and the continued inclusion of a rural cannibalistic family in the nearby woods adds a level of grotesque drama the season could do without” (UWIRE Text). I chose this source because I do agree with some of the contradictions they made. However, the ones I do not necessarily agree with make me think. I enjoy reading about why others have different perspectives than my own.
“Murder by thought” *
In this scholarly reviewed article, it explains the ways to help those who suffer from mental health disorders and/or drug abuse after they have committed a crime. This is a very factual article. Furthermore, there are lots of compelling arguments made on behalf of the patients loved ones. In the article, it states: “... I am fully aware that we never will be able to ‘fix’ anyone else. We can provide education, compassion, and support, thus creating an environment in which people feel free to release old, unhealthy beliefs... that no longer work” (USA Today 24). I chose this article because it shows lots of statistics. It shows the reality of what is actually going on with these people who have murdered others while dealing with a mental health disorder or a drug addiction.
Works Cited
“Antisocial Behavior and Drug Addiction.” Dual Diagnosis, www.dualdiagnosis.org/antisocial- behavior-drug-addiction/.
“‘AHS: Roanoke’ Takes Fans on a Bizarre Ride.” UWIRE Text, 2016. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl. 470987833&site=eds-live
Carroll, Heather. “Serious Mental Illness and Homicide.” Treatment Advocacy Center, June 2016, www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3627.
Clyde, Marianne. “Murder by Thought.(Psychology).” USA Today (Magazine), no. 2874, 2018, p. 24. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edsric&AN=edsric.A545432896&site=eds-live.
Kornhaber, Spencer. “'American Horror Story: Roanoke' Is Becoming a Meta Masterpiece of Trash and Gore.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 28 Oct. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/american-horror-story-roanoke- episode-seven-season-six-review/505580/.
“Substance Abuse Among Police.” American Addiction Centers, 18 Nov. 2018, americanaddictioncenters.org/police.
Annotated Bibliography
“American Horror Story's Mind-Bending Experiment”
This online article, written by Spencer Kornhaber, not only gives us a summary of the events in the miniseries, but it also includes his thoughts as a viewer. It includes valid remarks and responses to the everyday viewers inquiries about the plot. Kornhaber makes the reader think more in depth about how the directors set everything up. In his article, he states, “... as you watch, you have to keep in mind the possibility that even this layer of action may be staged. Which is a funny thing to wonder about because, of course, it all is staged by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk”. This quote from the article is just one example of the way Kornhaber presents the reader with something that they may not have been thinking about while watching the miniseries. I chose this as one of my sources because it made me dig for a deeper meaning to the scenes.
“Media’s Influence on Substance Abuse in the Real World”
This online article, written by Alyssa Koenig, describes the alteration of our society’s view on drug addiction. This article mainly focuses on how films glamorize drug addiction, but ultimately leave the drug addict at “rock bottom”. Continuing the “rock bottom” topic, Koenig comments, “For some, they become aware of their addiction early and seek help from drug rehab centers voluntarily. For others, it might take longer to accept help — in which case they may actually hit rock bottom”. This is a very significant quote that I will definitely be keeping in mind while working on my adaptation. This shows that every addict has different experiences, but very few have had the one-track portrayal that most media/films have created. From this article, I will be taking the knowledge that “... everyone is different and media likes to portray addiction as a homogenous experience across the board for all recovering addicts from Los Angeles to the East Coast” (Koenig). Furthermore, I think it is very important to create content that is relatable to some (if not, most) of the readers/viewers. In addition, it it also important to keep an open mind to others experiences when creating content.
“Substance Abuse Within the Police Force”
This online article is filled with loads of information pertaining to drug addiction among police officers. Is it both enlightening and relatable to have a deeper understand to what police officers struggle with on a day to day basis. This article includes reasons why police could become addicted to drugs, treatment options, and ways to cope. In an issue of The Police Chief (that was shown on my chosen article) Robin Kroll, PsyD, states, “When officers struggle with addiction, it is critical that they take time away from the job. Medical leave allows officers to fully concentrate on recovery, which includes gaining insight to the root of their addiction, learning new healthy coping strategies, and identifying triggers that have led or could lead to a relapse”. From this article, I have gained a better understanding as to why police would develop a drug addiction. It really eased my mind to know that there are so many different ways to help/treat those officers before sending them back to their job. I am using this source because the character that I am going to be focusing on the most, throughout my adaptation, was a former police sheriff before she began her drug addiction. Therefore, it only made sense for me to get a better understand as to how that may have happened.
“Criminalization of Mental Illness”
This informative online article, created by the Treatment Advocacy Center, talks about the fact that people who suffer from mental health disorders are put into jail cells and prisons rather than hospitals to treat them. It explains, “Deinstitutionalization, outdated treatment laws demanding a person become violent before intervention, discriminatory federal Medicaid funding practices and the prolonged failure by states to fund their mental health systems drive those in need of care into the criminal justice and corrections systems, rather than into the public health system where they belong”. I chose to use this resource as an additional source of mental health disorder information. This text made me realize just how important treatment is to mental health disorder patients. The article states, “Criminalizing mental illness worsens the health of hundreds of thousands of people and complicates their recovery by creating additional barriers to housing and employment. It burdens law enforcement and correctional systems. In the process, it costs taxpayers countless dollars”. In conclusion, there is no benefit to anyone involved.
“ ‘AHS: Roanoke’ takes fans on a bizarre ride” *
In this scholarly reviewed article, it goes in depth on the story line, creation, and director thoughts of American Horror Story: Roanoke. It makes contradictions to some scenes of the miniseries, which gives the reader a different perspective. It argues, “The second half is painful to watch, and the continued inclusion of a rural cannibalistic family in the nearby woods adds a level of grotesque drama the season could do without” (UWIRE Text). I chose this source because I do agree with some of the contradictions they made. However, the ones I do not necessarily agree with make me think. I enjoy reading about why others have different perspectives than my own.
“Murder by thought” *
In this scholarly reviewed article, it explains the ways to help those who suffer from mental health disorders and/or drug abuse after they have committed a crime. This is a very factual article. Furthermore, there are lots of compelling arguments made on behalf of the patients loved ones. In the article, it states: “... I am fully aware that we never will be able to ‘fix’ anyone else. We can provide education, compassion, and support, thus creating an environment in which people feel free to release old, unhealthy beliefs... that no longer work” (USA Today 24). I chose this article because it shows lots of statistics. It shows the reality of what is actually going on with these people who have murdered others while dealing with a mental health disorder or a drug addiction.
Works Cited
“Antisocial Behavior and Drug Addiction.” Dual Diagnosis, www.dualdiagnosis.org/antisocial- behavior-drug-addiction/.
“‘AHS: Roanoke’ Takes Fans on a Bizarre Ride.” UWIRE Text, 2016. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl. 470987833&site=eds-live
Carroll, Heather. “Serious Mental Illness and Homicide.” Treatment Advocacy Center, June 2016, www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3627.
Clyde, Marianne. “Murder by Thought.(Psychology).” USA Today (Magazine), no. 2874, 2018, p. 24. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edsric&AN=edsric.A545432896&site=eds-live.
Kornhaber, Spencer. “'American Horror Story: Roanoke' Is Becoming a Meta Masterpiece of Trash and Gore.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 28 Oct. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/american-horror-story-roanoke- episode-seven-season-six-review/505580/.
“Substance Abuse Among Police.” American Addiction Centers, 18 Nov. 2018, americanaddictioncenters.org/police.