This thesis considers the representation of madness in popular film, in the main from the Western canon and English speaking, and argues that madness is seen and represented as an extreme of human experience, a form of Otherness, which throws into relief notions of ontology, sanity and personal and cultural identity. It progresses from a consideration of the historical representations of madness and sanity in art and literature to a review of the pertinent literature on cinema and representation, and uses seminal examples from throughout cinematic history mostly from English language films, from 1906-1996, to illustrate the argument. Alternative methodological approaches are considered for the insights they may provide, and also for the contribution they make to the development of the thesis, in particular the influence of semiotics. A number of stereotypical portrayals of madness, such as the 'mad scientist', the 'crazed murderer', and the 'doomed heroic outsider' are examined in detail. Finally, the thesis proposes the way madness, and mad people, are represented in popular film is reflective and indicative of social and cultural concerns over what can be known, how identity can be established and what it means to live in the contemporary world fraught with uncertainty, anxiety and change / Doctor of Philosophy (Hons)

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1997. / References and bibliography : p. 308-345.