Posted by M. Lee on January 19, 2003, at 12:58:19
In reply to Re: 'A Beautiful Mind' anyone? (SPOILER!) » M .Lee, posted by wendy b. on January 16, 2003, at 21:21:38
Wendy, thanks for the link. I had noticed that same scene, also. In the biography Nash said that he went off the meds (and stayed off) because it interfered with his mathematical reasoning. He also said that he believed his delusions because they "came to me the same way my mathenatical ideas did. So, I took them seriously." After he won the Nobel he gave a speech to a group of psychiatrists and stressed the same point - what if an artist is "cured" and becomes "rational" But, he can't paint. Is that really a "cure?"
> http://www.disabilityworld.org/01-03_02/arts/mind.shtml
>
Although I noticed that detail, I was actually more bothered by Nash's claim that he "willed" himself to get better. I guess I've just met people who have had that attitude towards me "why can't (don't) you just..."> No, M.Lee, as a former student of the filmmaking arts, I don't ever think we're getting truth or even close to it on films like these. What I'm interested in is the *representation* of mental illness, and what it says about our culture. So I liked this thread, and felt I should revive it!
>I've never studied film myself. But, my ex did, so I probably learned a little through osmosis ;) I'm glad someone picked up on this thread, because I do enjoy discussing it. I saw Beautiful Mind early last year, and had some strong feelings about things portrayed in the movie. But, this is the first time I have talked about that with anyone.
I try to remember not to take movies "based on a true story!" literaly. Although, some movie companies seem to blur the line and sometimes represent or imply that the movie is historical (Pearl Harbor, Apollo 13. Not to open a can of worms, but JFK!) I mentioned Titantic in an earlier post. They "publicized" the lengths that they went to in getting the set and scenes accurate. Which, can give the false impression that they also depicted the events in the story with the same care. Caveat emptor!
poster:M. Lee
thread:34562
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030111/msgs/35503.html