Mental Health in Times of COVID-19: An Exploration of the Representation of Mental Health in Pandemic Literary and Cinematic Narratives

Abstract

Pandemics though concern the medical health of a certain community or communities, also have a significant impact on the mental health of the members of that community. Each section of society is affected, albeit differently, in a pandemic. Art and literature engage with and represent society and all its mores. In a pandemic as well, these modes of representation assume a special responsibility and role. This paper seeks to analyse the representation of the mental health of individuals and society through literary and artistic mediums. In the case of artistic mediums, cinematic portrayals will be the centre of study. These representations, in turn, affect one’s mental state and understanding of a situation. The paper will thus, study and evaluate certain literary and cinematic texts, their representation of mental health, and their applicability to the COVID-19 pandemic using established theories as supporting material to substantiate the claims made in the study of the aforementioned works.