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

Abstract

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 ,, and 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.

Ageing Masculinities, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Narratives

“…A common element in illness life-writing, Taylor's account begins with a chapter entitled 'a diagnosis' . Yet, confrontation with diagnosis does not come as a key moment of change that would suddenly alter his perspective on life ( Couser 1997 , 82, 64;Jutel and Jutel 2017 ). For Taylor, there does not seem to be a time before diagnosis, as he 'was only ten years old when [his father] had his nervous breakdown, only fi ft een when his disease was diagnosed, only eighteen when he started misidentifying me' (243).…”

Evaluation of Medical Ethics Education Based on a Film Wit: A Quantitative Content Analysis

“…The film called "Wit", deals with a number of issues to be faced in a hospital, such as physician-patient, researcher-volunteer, nurse-patient and fellow-professor relationships, in addition to the fundamental subjects such as ethical issues on end-of-life and research in biomedicine (10). There are many studies in which this film is used in the education of healthcare students and professionals (11)(12)(13). In their second year, we have students watch the film, mainly in the context of roles related to the physician, to gain sensitivity to ethical issues in the context of what they see, hear and think.…”

‘The expertness of his healer’: Diagnosis, disclosure and the power of a profession

“…It is the title of a popular New York Times column which challenges lay people to name peculiar presentations of disease. Similarly, it features highly in popular culture through TV shows (ex: House, MD; Breaking Bad, Madmen); movies (ex: Still Alice, Wit, 50/50) and novels (ex: Saturday, Blazing World, Gilead) (Jutel and Jutel, 2017; Jutel, 2016).…”

“…This purposeful disregard for individual context in order to reveal broader patterns is part of a wider project on the revelation of diagnosis which considers the representation of the diagnostic moment across media (film and television (Jutel and Jutel, 2017), fiction (Jutel, 2016a)) and contexts (Jutel, 2016b). Here, I add an historical context.…”