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Cinematic Representations of Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. Raquel Medina

    1. School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom

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  • Provides a comparative and cross-cultural analysis of cinematic representations of Alzheimer’s disease in Spain, France, The Netherlands, Turkey, South Korea, Iran, Mexico, Chile and Canada
  • Focuses on non-mainstream films to convey a diverse variety of local /national perceptions and representations of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Offers a positive and life-affirming approach to Alzheimer’s disease

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
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  2. Introduction

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 1-14

  3. Old Age and Alzheimer’s Disease in Film

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 15-43

  4. Intergenerational Interactions and Alzheimer’s Disease

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 45-94

  5. Gender and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Power of Words, Herbs, Water, Veils, and Mountains

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 95-133

  6. Agency and Masculinity in Alzheimer’s Disease: Cortex (2008) and The Memory of a Killer (2003)

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 135-169

  7. Recovering the Past: Historical Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 171-204

  8. Conclusion

    • Raquel Medina
    Pages 205-214

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 215-224
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Keywords

About this book

This book offers a cross-cultural approach to cinematic representations of Alzheimer’s disease in non-mainstream cinema. Even though Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a global health issue, it is not perceived or represented homogenously around the world. Contrary to very well-known mainstream films, the films discussed do not focus on the negative aspects normally associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but on the importance of portraying the perspective of the persons living with Alzheimer’s and their personhood. Similarly, this book analyses how the films use Alzheimer’s as a trope to address issues relating to different areas of life and society such as, for example, family matters, intergenerational relationships, gender issues, national traditions versus global modernity, and caring for people with dementia. By examining an array of films, from crime fiction to documentary, that each present non-stigmatising representations of Alzheimer’s disease, this in-depth study ultimately demonstrates the power of culture in shaping meaning.

Reviews

“This thorough, important, and timely book offers a useful and original contribution to a burgeoning field. Medina moves the conversation out of mainstream film without losing central significance. Her work systematically exposes the problems of simplistically valorizing agency as a measure of human value. The book reminds readers that context always matters and that cultural forms are an essential part of material context.” (Sally Chivers, Trent University, Canada)

Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Raquel Medina

About the author

Raquel Medina is Senior Lecturer in Spanish Studies, Aston University, UK.

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