Dermatology in the cinema

Perception and portrayal: The depiction of psoriasis in dermatology cartoons

Psoriasis is a frequently misunderstood condition that is associated with significant stigma. Media portrayals of skin disorders can influence public beliefs about those disorders. This study aimed to describe the portrayal of psoriasis in cartoons to inform education campaigns about the condition in a creative manner. The image sections of the internet search engines Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo were inspected for single-panel cartoons that specifically referenced psoriasis. Each cartoon about psoriasis was then examined according to an instrument with categories for describing the treatment, outcome, impact of diagnosis, nature of the cartoonist's intended humor, and apparent messages about psoriasis. Twelve cartoons were identified. There is scope for more positive and imaginative portrayals of psoriasis in cartoons. The phrase heartbreak of psoriasis was commonly used by cartoonists, and this medium has overlooked various treatment options for psoriasis.

Facial features of cartoon characters and their perceived attributes

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between skeletal antero-posterior profile of popular family cartoon characters and their perceived personal characteristics. The Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB) was used to identify popular animated family movies released since 2000. Cartoon characters were identified, and classified based on their gender (male/female), skeletal profile (Class I, II or III) and character assessment (protagonist/antagonist). Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Chi Square analysis was used to assess the differences (p-value) between gender and character assessment against the skeletal profile. Fifty popular animated family movies were identified. Within these 88 humanoid cartoon characters were identified made up of 32 male protagonists, 27 female protagonists, 22 male antagonists and 7 female antagonists. 40, 30, 21 were assessed as having a Class I, II and III skeletal profiles respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed in both FPFA and MPFP values for Class III characters (P = 0.009 and P = 0.006, respectively). However, no significant variations were noted when comparing the remaining groups. Female antagonists and male protagonists were most likely to be portrayed with a Class III skeletal pattern when compared to female protagonists and male antagonists respectively.

The portrayal of moles in dermatology cartoons

Media portrayals of medical disorders can influence public beliefs about those disorders. There have been no previous studies about the depiction of dermatologic conditions in cartoons. The aim of this study was to describe the portrayal of skin moles in cartoons. The image sections of internet search engines Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo were inspected for single-panel cartoons that referred to skin moles. Each cartoon was examined according to characteristics of the patient, mole(s), and treatment. Sixty-six cartoons were identified. One third of the moles were portrayed as suspicious, a quality often conveyed by a furtive-looking mole creature on the patient. Most cartoons depicted or mentioned a medical doctor; a dermatologist featured in 12 cases. There was discretion in how the moles were managed. Among the treatment options were excision, hitting the mole with a mallet, and observation over time. It was noteworthy that none of the cartoons made specific reference to melanoma. The study findings may creatively inform efforts to educate the public and health professionals about moles and their management.

Towards a better understanding of the social stigma of facial difference

Facial difference (FD) is not only an individual experience; it is inherently social, reflecting interactions between social norms and individual attitudes. Often FD is stigmatized. In this paper, we employ a widely used stigma framework, namely the social stigma framework put forth by Pryor and Reeder (2011), to unpack the stigma of FD. This framework posits that there are four forms of stigma: public stigma, self-stigma, stigma by association, and structural stigma. We first discuss the social and psychological literature on FD as it pertains to these various forms of stigma. We then describe coping approaches for FD stigma. Lastly, we delineate evidence-based methods for addressing the various forms of FD stigma, such that future efforts can more effectively tackle the stigma of facial difference.

Dermatologic Features of Classic Movie Villains: The Face of Evil

Importance

Dichotomous dermatologic depictions of heroes and villains in movies have been used since the silent film age.

Objective

To evaluate the hero-villain skin dichotomy in film by (1) identifying dermatologic findings of the all-time top 10 American film villains, (2) comparing these dermatologic findings to the all-time top 10 American film heroes quantitatively and qualitatively, and (3) analyzing dermatologic portrayals of film villains in depth.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cross-sectional study, dermatologic findings for film heroes and villains in mainstream media were identified and compared quantitatively using a χ2 test with α < .05, as well as qualitatively. The all-time top 10 American film villains and heroes were obtained from the American Film Institute 100 Greatest Heroes and Villains List.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcomes include identification and frequencies of dermatologic findings of the top 10 film villains and of the top 10 film heroes.

Results

Six (60%) of the all-time top 10 American film villains have dermatologic findings, including cosmetically significant alopecia (30%), periorbital hyperpigmentation (30%), deep rhytides on the face (20%), multiple facial scars (20%), verruca vulgaris on the face (20%), and rhinophyma (10%). The top 10 villains have a higher incidence of significant dermatologic findings than the top 10 heroes (60% vs 0%; P = .03).

Conclusions and Relevance

Dermatologic findings of the all-time top 10 American villains are used in film to highlight the dichotomy of good and evil, which may foster a tendency toward prejudice in our society directed at those with skin disease.

The concept of mental disorder in Greek cinema

Mental patients in Greek society have never been considered as 'sacred', but on the contrary as handicapped, and cinema largely reflects these concepts. A total of 30 films that appeared to deal with mental disorder in a direct or indirect way have been reviewed. The identification of each mental disorder was made according to DSM-IV criteria. Five of these cases were presented as having a factitious disorder, seven were psychotic and two had dissociative (hysterical) disorders. The remaining eight cases related to personality disorder or character deviance. In two cases diagnosis was impossible. The image of mental disorder is consistent with psychiatric nosology, and disorders with 'dramatic' or 'impressive' manifestation of symptomatology are chosen. No real solutions, proposals or ideology on mental illness emerge.