Media RX: Breaking Down Stereotypes of Mental Illness on TV

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment

New York magazine declared that 2015 was the year that “mental health finally got some respect on television.” The trend has continued in 2016 with complex and controversial portrayals of mental illness in critically acclaimed series like Mr. Robot, Orange Is the New Black, Homeland, UnREAL, Empire, and Lady Dynamite. This panel discussion will examine the evolution of depictions of mental health on television from the earliest days of the medium to the present, with an emphasis on how media can help to break down stereotypes and common tropes. Clips from the vast Paley archive of landmark programs, ranging from Sybil to The Sopranos, will be used to provide context and catalyze conversation.