| |
| author |
Hayden Mattson
| | title |
A Case Study of 'The Wolverine': How film represents comorbid mental disorders in the character "Wolverine" through a fantastical lens, and the impact of this representation on men
| | abstract |
A Case Study of 'The Wolverine' explores the film character Logan, portrayed by Hugh
Jackman, and the expression of his psychological distress. Logan's adherence to traditional
masculine norms results in the manifestation of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major
depressive disorder (MDD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD), which causes social and behavioral
problems. In men and Logan in particular, these disorders contribute most frequently to a state of
anger and irritability, as his inability to express his emotions otherwise is clear. Logan's life
viewed comprehensively in the world of cinema begins with his introduction in X-Men (2000)
and ends with Logan (2017). Altogether, he has nine on screen appearances which examine his
psychological makeup, beginning from childhood in the year 1845, and ending with his death in
2029. Trauma is what informs many of Logan's actions and attitudes, ultimately leading to the
development of PTSD, and subsequent MDD and AUD. Film techniques contribute to the
understanding of Logan's mental makeup. His portrayal further notifies audiences of what the
"appropriate" masculine response to trauma is. Additionally, Logan's mind and body are
concurrently breaking down throughout the films, which suggests a certain brittleness of the
traditional masculine experience. The portrayal of mental disorders in Logan's character serves
as a model for continuing psychological and film analyses of other masculine characters in
popular culture.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2024)
|
| advisor |
Jill Cermele
|
| full text | HMattson.pdf |
| |
