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The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613980092006400 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Briel, Lize Marita |
| author2 | Schonken, Philip Antoni |
| author_browse | Briel, Lize Marita Schonken, Philip Antoni |
| author_facet | Schonken, Philip Antoni Briel, Lize Marita |
| author_sort | Briel, Lize Marita |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132086 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:45.702Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132086 The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split Briel, Lize Marita Schonken, Philip Antoni Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Music. Motion picture music -- Analysis, appreciation Mental illness in motion pictures Split (2016) -- Criticism and interpretation Multiple personality -- Drama Music -- Psychological aspects Dissociative identity disorder -- Film adaptations UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Briel, L. M. 2025. The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: A case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/9f5e7eea-7918-4be4-aa26-dcb0df87d08b ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The intersection of music and mental illness in cinematic depictions is central to this study, with particular emphasis on how dissociative identity disorder (DID) is sensationalised in the 2016 psychological horror film Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and scored by West Dylan Thordson. The research aims to investigate how the film’s musical score and sound design could contribute to the audience's perception of mental illness, with particular attention to the use of musical techniques that enhance the sensational aspects of DID. The central claim of this study is that the score of Split plays a role in amplifying the emotional intensity of the narrative and portraying DID as a vehicle for supernatural capabilities, which in turn fuels sensationalism. Through a case study approach, the thesis examines the use of compositional techniques such as recurring motifs, dissonance, silence, and tonal shifts in key scenes, particularly focusing on the character of The Beast, a manifestation of one of Kevin Wendell Crumb's alters. The Beast's superhuman attributes are emphasised by the score, which heightens suspense and fear, ultimately linking mental illness with violence and supernatural abilities. The study further utilises semiotic analysis of the score, dialogue, and visual elements in the film, drawing on a range of sources including peer-reviewed literature on film music and sensationalism in media. By situating Split within the horror genre, the thesis illustrates how music not only serves as an emotional undercurrent but also as a narrative device that distorts the realities of DID to align with horror tropes. The findings of this research contribute to the broader discourse on the representation of mental illness in film, particularly how auditory elements like music can be instrumental in framing disorders in ways that are far removed from clinical realities. It concludes with a call for further exploration of film music’s role in reinforcing societal misconceptions of mental illness and suggests potential avenues for future research on the intersection of music, media, and mental health. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die kruispunt tussen musiek en geestesongesteldheid in filmiese uitbeeldings, met ‘n fokus op die sensasionalisering van dissosiatiewe identiteitsversteuring (DID) soos uitgebeeld in die 2016 sielkundige riller Split, deur die regisseur M. Night Shyamalan en met 'n musiekklankbaan deur West Dylan Thordson. Die navorsing poog om te ondersoek hoe filmmusiek bydra tot die gehoor se persepsie van geestesongesteldheid, met besondere aandag aan die musikale tegnieke wat die sensasionele aspekte van DID versterk. Die studie stel dat die klankbaan van Split 'n rol speel in die emosionele versterking van die storielyn en die uitbeelding van DID as 'n voertuig vir bonatuurlike vermoëns wat sensasionalisering aanwakker. Aan die hand van ‘n gevallestudie ondersoek die tesis die gebruik van musikale tegnieke soos byvoorbeeld herhalende motiewe, dissonansie, stilte, en tonale skuiwe in spesefieke tonele, met ‘n fokus op die karakter van Die Ondier, 'n manifestasie van een van Kevin Wendell Crumb se alters. Die Ondier se bonatuurlike eienskappe word beklemtoon deur die musiek, wat spanning en vrees verhoog, en uiteindelik geestesongesteldheid koppel aan geweld en bonatuurlike vermoëns. Die studie gebruik semiotiese analise van die klankbaan, dialoog en visuele elemente in die film, en 'n verskeidenheid bronne, insluitend eweknie-geëvalueerde literatuur oor filmmusiek en sensasionalisme in die media. Deur Split in die gruwelfilmkategorie te plaas, illustreer die tesis hoe musiek nie net as 'n emosionele onderstroom dien nie, maar ook as 'n instrument wat die werklikhede van DID verdraai om aan te las by gruwelmotiewe. Die bevindings van hierdie navorsing dra by tot die breër diskoers oor die uitbeelding van geestesongesteldheid in film, veral hoe klank-elemente soos musiek instrumenteel kan wees om versteurings uit te beeld in ‘n wyse wat verwyder is van kliniese realiteite. Die studie sluit af met 'n pleidooi vir ’n navorsingsfokus op die rol van filmmusiek in die versterking van sosiale wanpersepsies oor geestesongesteldheid en stel potensiële rigtings vir toekomstige navorsing voor wat die kruispunte tussen musiek, media en geestesgesondheid oorweeg. Masters 2025-05-22T13:52:46Z 2025-05-22T13:52:46Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132086 Stellenbosch University vii, 102 pages : illustrations, music application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Motion picture music -- Analysis, appreciation Mental illness in motion pictures Split (2016) -- Criticism and interpretation Multiple personality -- Drama Music -- Psychological aspects Dissociative identity disorder -- Film adaptations UCTD Briel, Lize Marita The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title | The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title_full | The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title_fullStr | The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title_short | The role of music in sensationalising mental illness: a case study of dissociative identity disorder in Split |
| title_sort | role of music in sensationalising mental illness a case study of dissociative identity disorder in split |
| topic | Motion picture music -- Analysis, appreciation Mental illness in motion pictures Split (2016) -- Criticism and interpretation Multiple personality -- Drama Music -- Psychological aspects Dissociative identity disorder -- Film adaptations UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132086 |
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