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The Asylum

The American mental institution, a history through pop culture

Gender
Lizzie Borden and Victorian Madness

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on September 3, 2024

The unsolved mystery of the Borden murders brought national attention to a prim Victorian woman and raised the specter of the female criminal.

The unsolved mystery of the Borden murders brought national attention to a prim Victorian woman and raised the specter of the female criminal.

Loneliness
Space Madness: A “Real” Hollywood Illness

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on April 1, 2024

Can space travel make a person insane? Hollywood has some ideas about "space madness," most recently seen in the movie "Spaceman" starring Adam Sandler.

Can space travel make a person insane? Hollywood has some ideas about "space madness," most recently seen in the movie "Spaceman" starring Adam Sandler.

Hallucination
Acid Trips in the Madhouse

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on September 28, 2023

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.

Trauma
War and the Horror Genre

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on August 28, 2023

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.

Therapy
An Exorcist for Our Times

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on July 20, 2023

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.

Psychosis
"Hidden Valley Road" and the Horror of Schizophrenia

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on July 3, 2023

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.

Media
Marilyn Monroe and the Mirror of Madness

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on May 31, 2023

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.

Bias
Final Girls and the Asylum

Troy Rondinone Ph.D. on March 31, 2023

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.