To define true madness.

Five part series on the history of madness and psychiatry. Part 1: To Define True Madness. Dr. Jonathan Miller with Dr. Roy Porter (W.I.H.M.) and Prof. Michael Macdonald (University of Wisconsin). Looks at changing meanings of madness and theories of its causation in historical and cross-cultural perspective using this quote from Shakespeare as a starting point.

Shot list: Hudson River Psychiatric Center, U.S.; Jonathan Miller's father - photograph; Shakespeare rehearsal; Punk man and woman - examples of particular dress; Church scene behaviour, which is disturbing if not seen in its context; Trieste, mental patients; Faces of mentally ill, U.S.; Dr. Ruth Seifert, Hackney Hospital with patients; African healing ritual - witchdoctor smells out disease; Hieronymos Bosch paintings; Museum of Monuments, Paris (sinners, punishments); Prof. Roy Porter (WIHM); Mss - alchemical; Prof. Porter on natural/supernatural debate; Dramatic reconstruction: Mary Glover in coma and the witchcraft debate (Edward Jordan); US - adverts for cult services; Priest exorcising subject (feature film); Prof. Roy Porter; Painting of Richard Napier, 17th. C. doctor and priest; his casebooks at Bodleian Library; pages shown (Prof. Michael MacDonald); Napier's house, Bucks.; Kirkham Abbey, Yorks.; Surgical amphitheatre, 18th.C., Pennsylvania; Painting of Isaac Newton, architect of new mechanical philosophy; Model of solar system; Wax model of human body showing muscles, blood vessels etc.; US Psychiatric Assciation - annual conference; Brainscan; Woman patient singing.

Taking "Hamlet" as his starting point, Jonathan Miller discusses the relativity of madness: what appears to be madness in one time and place may not appear so in another context. He considers how Christianty has heightened psychological strain by increasing introspection and examines the case of the allegedly bewitched Mary Glover in the early 17th century, a time when madness could be attributed to either physical or supernatural causes. By the early 18th century, however, supernatural explanations of madness were in decline. Technical progress in agriculture, industry and warfare was encouraging a mechanical view of the world, while religious enthusiasm was increasingly regarded as a threat to civil order. Physical explanations of insanity and medical treatments for the insane progressively displaced belief in the supernatural origins of madness and the efficacy of spiritual remedies. However, medicine did not make much progress in the treatment of the insane and purgings, etc. continued to be administered well into the 19th century - heroic remedies which long outlived the Galenic beliefs which originally prompted them.

UK : BBC-TV, 1991.

1 videocassette (VHS) (60 min.) : sound, color, PAL.
1 DVD (60 min.) : sound, color, PAL.

Brook Production for BBC Television in Association with KCET Los Angeles.

BBC Television.