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‘Deal with It. Name It’: the diagnostic moment in film

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posted on 2021-12-01, 17:57 authored by Annemarie JutelAnnemarie Jutel, Thierry JutelThierry Jutel
The moment a serious diagnosis is announced creates an important crisis for a patient, as it shifts their sense of self and of their future potential. This essay discusses the creative representation and use of this diagnostic moment in film narratives. Using Still Alice, A Late Quartet, Wit and Cléo from 5 to 7 as examples, we describe how each of these uses the diagnostic moment in relation to narrative construction and characterisation in recognisable ways. We associate the diagnostic moment with certain narrative and visual devices that are frequently implemented in films as means for character development, and for managing the audience’s empathy. This is the case whether or not the diagnosis is contested or accepted, and whether the diagnostic moment is the frame for the narrative, or a closing device. By analysing its representation in film, we emphasise the cultural significance of diagnosis as a life-transforming event.

Funding

The Role of Diagnosis in Health & Wellbeing: A social science perspective on the social, economic and political costs and consequences of diagnosis

Economic and Social Research Council

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History

Preferred citation

Jutel, A. & Jutel, T. (2017). ‘Deal with It. Name It’: the diagnostic moment in film. Medical Humanities, 43(3), 185-191. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2016-011138

Journal title

Medical Humanities

Volume

43

Issue

3

Publication date

2017-03-14

Pagination

185-191

Publisher

BMJ

Publication status

Published

Contribution type

Article

Online publication date

2017-03-14

ISSN

1468-215X

eISSN

1473-4265

Language

en