https://929nin.com/the-representation-misrepresentation-of-ocd-in-television/

Disturbed by recent attitudes in the media, a man named Tony Kerns published an article on February 27, 2019 to 92.9NIN titled “The Representation and Misrepresentation of OCD in Television”, detailing the often overlooked negative portrayals of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and how problematic misconceptions may form in viewers’ minds as a result. Primarily addressed is the use of mental illness for comedy in shows such as “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory”. “Accurate” portrayals are also discussed, but the author often still arises concern in these too.

Drawing attention to this increasingly prevalent issue is much needed in our society, namely the focus on how those with mental conditions respond to the misrepresentation and trivialization, making the raw ideas behind the article informative. As I read the piece through I promptly recognized elements of my previously analyzed articles, namely the mention of misrepresentation as a failed means of combating stigma which my fifth and sixth articles use as some of their primary topics. Bias does interfere, however, and those who have not viewed the TV shows referenced would be easily swayed by the content of the piece: where clips of these shows are included, they are taken from the worst of the mental illness portrayals and any areas exhibiting greater accuracy are disregarded. Wording such as “our society today does not take [the misrepresentation] as seriously as it should”, “[Howie Mandel was made] purposely uncomfortable just to see how he’d react”, and “the young girl [showcasing trivialization of mental illness in stores] was berated and insulted by a multitude of internet trolls”  provides further insight into the author’s bias and opinions as well as hints at the usage of celebrities to persuade the audience, a tactic mentioned all the way back in post one with Nick Jonas. All the above aside, I do still recognize the article’s relevance in today’s society; many seem quite gullible and ill-informed as they often do believe myths and stereotypes without clear evidence. Also, effective elements exist, with the use of visuals and clear definition of true OCD reinforcing the intended message well while also proving inaccuracy in the media. Overall, the text does inform and has a clear, specific focus.