Troy Rondinone Ph.D.

Can Art Ever Really Succeed at Explaining the Mind of a Killer?

Netflix's "The Killer" taps our insatiable urge to understand the mind of murderers. But can art ever succeed at doing this?

Netflix's "The Killer" taps our insatiable urge to understand the mind of murderers. But can art ever succeed at doing this?

Resisting Psychiatry in Classic Films of the 1990s

A Personal Perspective: Johnny Depp and Robin Williams were the nonconformists.

A Personal Perspective: Johnny Depp and Robin Williams were the nonconformists.

What's the Appeal of Werewolves?

Werewolves are folkloric beasts whose popularity taps into the elemental allure of feeling unbound.

Werewolves are folkloric beasts whose popularity taps into the elemental allure of feeling unbound.

Acid Trips in the Madhouse

In the 1960s, thanks to the CIA and counterculture heroes, LSD offered access to a strange world of madness and utopia.

In the 1960s, thanks to the CIA and counterculture heroes, LSD offered access to a strange world of madness and utopia.

War and the Horror Genre

War trauma often penetrates into popular culture in unexpected ways—the horror genre is one example of such transference.

War trauma often penetrates into popular culture in unexpected ways—the horror genre is one example of such transference.

An Exorcist for Our Times

In "The Pope's Exorcist," Russell Crowe battles the devil with shocking, last-resort talk therapy.

In "The Pope's Exorcist," Russell Crowe battles the devil with shocking, last-resort talk therapy.

"Hidden Valley Road" and the Horror of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is an often misunderstood and frightening disease. In pop culture, it is often problematically used in horror tropes. A new book offers a better view.

Schizophrenia is an often misunderstood and frightening disease. In pop culture, it is often problematically used in horror tropes. A new book offers a better view.

Marilyn Monroe and the Mirror of Madness

Marilyn Monroe continues to fascinate us. Beyond the beauty and the talent, Monroe beckons a deeper look as someone who suffered from mental illness.

Marilyn Monroe continues to fascinate us. Beyond the beauty and the talent, Monroe beckons a deeper look as someone who suffered from mental illness.

Woman’s Voice Ignored in Pop Culture Asylum Depiction

A Hollywood classic, "The Snake Pit," is worth re-evaluating. It diverges in troubling ways from the source material.

A Hollywood classic, "The Snake Pit," is worth re-evaluating. It diverges in troubling ways from the source material.

Final Girls and the Asylum

Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis is better known as a "Final Girl" in a series of slasher films. It's an archetype borrowed borrows from older asylum fiction.

Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis is better known as a "Final Girl" in a series of slasher films. It's an archetype borrowed borrows from older asylum fiction.