COLLECTION NAME:
Graduate Thesis Collection
Record
Title:
You Can't Joke About That: The Creation of Inheritance, a Short Film Inspired by a Study of the Psychological Benefits of Dark Humor in Film and Television in Relation to Family Trauma and Grief
Creator:
Robinson, Becca
Subject:
Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Film and Television
Subject:
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Film and Television
Rights:
Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Abstract:
"Every person goes through trauma at some point in their life. Whether this be personal traumas such as the death of a loved one, domestic violence, and child abuse; or a shared trauma such as a school shooting, war, or a pandemic -- everyone has experience with it. One particular trauma, familial trauma, is often ignored. In many cultures, to speak in an unsavory manner about one's family is an unforgivable offense; even if that family has caused physical, sexual or psychological damage. Because of this, many people find it difficult to speak out about their familial trauma, especially in cases of psychological abuse. People who neglect to find an outlet for their trauma may suffer long-term effects such as post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. This thesis explores why people joke about traumatic topics, in addition to the benefits of this type of humor, by examining medical studies, academic articles, and the world of cinema. In reviewing television, films, and studies that cover topics related to familial trauma such as grief, mental illness, and classism, the impact of the genre and its vastness can be more accurately analyzed. By analyzing these films and comparing them with academic studies of trauma, we can find correlations between humor and physician recommended coping mechanisms." --Abstract
Keywords: dark humor, black comedy, black humor, dark comedy, comedy, intergenerational trauma, family trauma, gallows humor, grief, stages of grief, coping mechanism, child abuse, substance abuse, suicide
Keywords: dark humor, black comedy, black humor, dark comedy, comedy, intergenerational trauma, family trauma, gallows humor, grief, stages of grief, coping mechanism, child abuse, substance abuse, suicide
Publisher:
Savannah, Georgia : Savannah College of Art and Design
Date:
2025-03
Format:
2 online resources: 1 PDF (Thesis, 29 pages) + 1 mp4 film (Studio component, approximately 9 min., sound, color)