Depression on Screen: Rewriting Depression Through Arts-Based Methods

<p>This dissertation explored the lived experiences of young women with depression and utilized a participatory arts-based research (ABR) approach to collaboratively translate these insights into a short, narrative film. The study evolved over three intertwined phases. Phase One involved semi-structured qualitative interviews with young women with lived experiences of depression, ages 18-25, exploring their lived experiences of depression, perceptions of current popular film and television portrayals, and identifications of stereotypes and notable gaps in the popular entertainment landscape. Phase Two then translated those insights into a collaboratively developed narrative short film, while simultaneously exploring how participation in the creative process shaped participants’ understanding of their own experiences. Phase Three comprised a virtual screening of the film, <em>Birthday Girl</em>, with a facilitated discussion with audience members with lived experiences of depression, providing a further avenue of engagement and meaning making with the completed film. Findings suggest that participatory ABR can create meaningful representation grounded in lived experience, validation and recognition for participants, and demonstrates how nuanced representations of depression told through a visual, emotional lens can make people feel seen and recognized. This work represents one step toward evolving and meaningful portrayals of depression, which actively involve those whose stories are being told.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Year dc:date.available

2026

Author dc:creator

• Dupuy, Monica

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michelle Miller-Day, Ph.D.
• Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster, Ph.D.
• Vikki Katz, Ph.D.
• Leah Aldridge, Ph.D.

• Communication

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/communication_dissertations/19

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:communication_dissertations-1018