POSITIVE VIBES ONLY

Author

Samantha Zellner

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Anderson, Kim

Area of Concentration

Art

Abstract

Public understanding of mental illness is largely impacted by mass media, which can perpetuate misinformation about mental illness and how it affects people. Inspired by themes found in artworks by Louise Bourgeois, Robert Williams and Ugo Rondinone, “Positive Vibes Only” is a series of paintings that illustrates common experiences of mental illness, and questions the cultural acceptance of avoiding uncomfortable feelings and emotions. Each painting depicts a vivid landscape that describes the struggles of specific mental illnesses. This body of work is guided by Melanie Klein’s theories about the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, as well as reparation, and relates to mental illness through foundational Kleinian concepts. Such concepts include adult neuroses resulting from a child’s inability to resolve loss,1 and that in order to heal, one must make reparations to their internal self.2 Also used in this thesis are mental illness concepts found in Christine Ross’ book, Aesthetics of Disengagement, including a critical shift regarding the understanding of mental illness.

Recommended Citation

Zellner, Samantha, "POSITIVE VIBES ONLY" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 6019.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6019