This rapper made a surprise performace

Entertainment | 924 February 2020 Beautiful Minds on the Big Screen

Christo “Baas” de Beer: Kendra Connock I mages of mentally ill people in films often fall into the stereotypes of maniacal and hysterical people who cannot be controlled; thus, feeding into the stigmas which exist around serious mental illnesses. Time to Change, a mental illness advocacy group, undertook a survey of more than 2000 members of the public to assess their attitudes towards mental illness as a result of their media exposure. When asked what characteristics define film characters with mental illnesses, the top three answers were “violent” (39%); “weird” (35%), and “likely to kill violently” (30%). Films often look to depictions of mental illness to engage audiences with a dramatic storyline of drama and conflict, resulting in false beliefs and stereotypes regarding the realities of living with a mental illness.

Mental illness and related issues have proven to create conflict of interest in films for decades and, in an attempt to entertain audiences, filmmakers often turn to inaccurate portrayals of mental illnesses. A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Shutter Island (2010) are both popular films which depict schizophrenic protagonists. Both films feature instances of violence inflicted on others, as well as self-inflicted violence which seems to communicate a message that people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more violent than those who are not. The stereotype perpetrated by films like these are completely inaccurate; in reality, schizophrenia usually does not lead to violence (in complete contradiction to what these films have suggested). Portrayals like these feed into the widely accepted stereotypes that mentally ill people are particularly volatile and violent but, in the US, only about 4% of violence can actually be traced to mental health problems. A professor at the University of North Carolina examined how mental illness is portrayed in visual media. He found that characters with mental illnesses were ten times more likely to commit a violent crime than other characters, and ten to twenty times more likely to commit a violent crime than someone with a mental illness in real life.

Another common misconception about mental illness which is perpetuated by portrayals in mainstream media is the belief that mental health disorders are all the same, and that they are all extreme. For the sake of entertainment, mental illness is depicted as an amalgamation of psychotic symptoms never really distinguishable as any particular mental illness. The majority of people who experience mental health issues do not experience the extreme symptoms depicted in films. Similarly, most films focus on severe cases of serious illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia but fail to pay attention to the most common mental health issues, experienced by many people in real life. In South Africa, the most common mental health issue which people suffer from is major depressive disorder. Nonetheless when we turn on the TV, we don’t see people grappling with this reality, instead we see sensationalised depictions of mental illness; exploited in the name of entertainment. Films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest instil an image in our minds where mental health care facilities are haunted buildings where archaic and unethical treatments are used on patients who are trapped there. Studies showed negative attitudes toward mental illness, and the hospitalised treatment thereof, increased following the release of the 1975 Oscar-winning film. In fact, media portrayal of mental health treatment in itself proves to be problematic as it skews our perceptions of exactly how mental illnesses are effectively treated. According to movies, mental illnesses are treated in dingy buildings with long, dark hallways and patients are treated with brutal electroconvulsive therapy, or other archaic forms of psychiatric treatment. Often the patients in these fictional facilities are trapped and never really receive effective treatment or actually reach some semblance of healing. In reality, patients with severe mental illnesses may seek treatment in psychiatric facilities, but there are pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatment options available to people who seek healing for their mental ailments. Treatment for mental health issues can be effective, and it doesn’t have to be administered in a dungeon-like mental asylum, the likes of which we see in the movies. In reality there is always hope for healing and recovery. Few individuals with serious mental illnesses feel comfortable disclosing their mental health status, as stigmas drive healthy discussion into the ground. With mass media actively contributing to the negative stereotypes which exist around mental illness, it doesn’t seem likely that this will change any time soon. The Screening Madness report identifies popular films as a “reservoir of prejudice, ignorance, and fear that perpetuates damaging stereotypes of people with mental health problems”.

Peter Byrne suggested in 2009 that “there are no mental health films, only mental illness ones”, but perhaps that is no longer true. The landscape of mental illness is slowly changing within the mainstream media, as characters with mental health issues are no

longer only seen as the villains or

the undesirables; but are now being portrayed as normal people living everyday lives. Charlie Covell, writer of the teen series The End of the F***ing World says “mental illness is such a huge part of the human condition. To not depict it onscreen would be to miss out on a massive subject, which affects people on a daily basis”. Good Will Hunting starring Matt Damon and the late Robin Williams puts the focus on

psychotherapy as treatment for depression. 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook was a breakthrough for the film industry as it showed protagonists in the midst of the mess and the hard work of healing as well as the journey towards recovery. In 2019, a psychological thriller hit the big screens that made severe mental illness the topic on everyone’s lips. Joaquin Phoenix brought DC’s troubled villain Arthur Fleck new dimension as he threw his immense acting skills into portraying the Joker. The film focuses heavily on the Joker’s mental state, making it a topic impossible to avoid for anyone who watches the movie; but unfortunately, it plays into nearly every false stereotype audiences usually believe about people with mental illnesses. The Joker is maniacal, unpredictable, and prone to extreme violence. Where the movie goes wrong is in its typical Hollywood depiction of the “mad man” as opposed to the “completely normal person suffering from a mental illness”. Like many other films, Joker fell into the trap of sensationalism and opted for a hyperbolic portrayal of mental illness in the interest of producing good entertainment. To the film’s credit, it touches on the budget cuts for mental health facilities and social workers that US President Reagan instituted, and the serious and adverse effects it had on people in the United States who needed help.

On-screen portrayals are generally negative and have a cumulative effect on the public’s perception of people with mental illness. The likelihood of people with mental health issues disclosing their struggles and seeking the appropriate help is unlikely. There is a desperate need for the mental health sector and media industries to collaborate and counter the negative portrayal of mental illness.

Hollywood is fuelled by what consumers want, if a new culture of compassion and communication regarding mental health issues starts with the consumers; Hollywood is bound to follow. In his acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Actor, Joaquin Phoenix quoted his late brother; the words written by the then-17-year-old River Phoenix should be a reminder to us all that change starts with us.

“Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow…” The man behind Open Mic Night at Aandklas. Image: Cletus Mulaudi

Dani van der Horst

On Sunday evenings, Aandklas exchanges its usual head-banging and table-dancing for moody guitar riffs and husky voices as Pretoria’s fresh talent takes to the stage. Open Mic Night has been a regular event at Aandklas for a few years now and has firmly established itself on Pretoria’s social calendar. Here, one can expect to meet eager musicians, cold beverages and great commentary. PDBY caught up with Christo de Beer, the driving force behind Aandklas’s Open Mic Night:

Who or what exactly is Baas de Beer? Baas de Beer is the public persona of Christo de Beer. If you see me on a stage, whether with a mic at a comedy night, a guitar at an open mic, a festival as MC or DJ... odds are you are looking at Baas. Christo, on the other hand, is a business owner who loves Music. A LOT.

Years ago I figured out that I am really not good enough to cut it as a professional Musician, so I channelled my passion for the industry into something that will hopefully help build a greater, stronger live Music scene in SA or, at the very least, help someone discover the joy of Music. On the business side of things, my company is involved with a couple of the most awesome events, venues and businesses in and around Pretoria. From the likes of STRAB Fest, Park Acoustics and Capital Craft to Blue-Chip Flight School and many more, I am privileged to work in a world where boredom isn’t a factor. Shameless plug: Check out www. activationmedia.co.za

What exactly is Open Mic Night at Aandklas and how did it all start?

It all started with a Francois van Coke show. He was playing one of his first acoustic shows at Aandklas, and Rudi (the owner of Aandklas) and I were standing there, having a drink and enjoying the Music, when he turned to me and said that this is why he built Aandklas. He expressed his desire to have someone playing Music on stage, even if just an acoustic solo act, every day. To shorten a medium story, I proposed that we have an Open Mic Night. A (very) short while later, we had our first event.

The Aandklas Open Mic started on 17 May 2015, and I knew nothing about open mics, other than what I’ve seen in the movies. [It] took us a good 3 months to shape it into the format we are running today, and I must say, it works really well. At that time, as far as my knowledge goes, there were no regular open mics in or around Pretoria, so we quite literally had to reinvent the wheel. I couldn’t go to another open mic to see how it was done.

Without Aandklas, Rudi, the musos and supporters who were there from the start, Pretoria would not have the rich diversity in open mics it has today, as a few other similar events spawned from the Aandklas nights. Currently I run another monthly open mic at Capital Craft Centurion. But the coolest part is that some of the musos who were at my open mics, are running similar open mics at Hooters, Edge’s Corner and Tiger’s milk in Lynwood. It was my unspoken hope from the start that the little bit that I have done, could inspire others to do more.

Tell me about your best memories of “Open Mic Night”?

Obviously, discovering young talent, and seeing how they grow. The most amazing experience is to be part of a Musician’s journey, in whatever way you can. I have been honoured to see the likes of Lungelo Moyo, the boys from Zebra, Kenny Hughes and many, many more set foot on my stage, and make something of themselves Musically. To see the personal, not just Musical growth in individuals is a treat and I am privileged to be a part of it.

It goes so much further than just that. Open mic has created a space for people like my righthand man, Obie Sicwebu (or as he is known at Aandklas, Obi-Wan Blacknobi), and guys like Jeandré Pistorius to find their passion for the industry, and live it.

I can keep you busy for days with epic moments - like songs that moved me and events that booked musos - but for me, the most amazing part of open mic is to be allowed to be a part of something bigger than myself, and take others along with me.

If a venue or organiser wants to start their own open mic; do you have any advice?

Yup. Most important, do it for the right reasons. If you’re starting it to make a quick buck or with the primary purpose of increasing sales, you will fail - miserably. Logically, it should make business sense, but I can guarantee you that there are more profitable ideas than an open mic. Your first and main reason for doing it should be the love of music, and the desire to invest in Musicians. This mindset will guide many of your decisions.

Then, also very important, this isn’t a solo show. Work together with venues, organisers, and like-minded individuals. For instance, it doesn’t make sense at this stage to have more than one open mic in Pretoria on the same night. Share the love and responsibility, work together, offer opportunities to artists. As an example, I am starting a monthly event with Klitsgras now that will offer young musos chosen from all the open mics in Pretoria a paying opportunity to play at this legendary venue, plus we are working on getting as much media there as possible, to give these guysproperexposure too! (Hint hint, hope PDBY will be there). Why rock ‘n roll? It’s real. It resonates with my soul. I see God in Music, the very nature and science of a string vibrating, made unique by the person playing it... it’s just something that can’t be replicated by the best computers in the world. There’s just something magical about humans playing Music together that can never be programmed.

I appreciate good Music and can recognise the value in good songs regardless of the genre, but rock will always be where my heart lies. If you can listen to an epic guitar solo without feeling something, or be unmoved by the poetry that becomes lyrics, you probably need professional help. For me, my professional help is rock & roll.

Who are some of your favourite up and coming South African musicians?

I would be doing a disservice to many great upcoming guys to say this is my definitive list, so I will just tell you about a few.

Zebra, Soundwarmer, Kenny Hughes as mentioned above, bands like Poeselig, Treble Bypass, Zen Garden, amazing ladies who will go far - such as Nicola Mcleod, Shot at the Moon, Kaiti Faul... Ag no man! I can’t possibly list them all. Rather just come to an open mic and meet them or go to a gig where you don’t recognize any of the band names. Who knows, 30 years from now, when someone like Stanley June is a household name, you can say that you bought him a shot at an open mic one night, years ago, and your kids will be seriously impressed.

Describe Aandklas to someone who has never been there:

For me, Aandklas has always been a homeaway-from-home. I would legit not have been who, or where I am, had it not been for that place and its people, so you might say that I am a bit biased when describing it. Aandklas is where Musical dreams are born, drunken memories are made and best friends are met. It’s honest, it’s real and if you look carefully, between the bottles, smoke, dark corners and cheap bars, you will see joy. You will also see some pretty epic bands, let’s not forget to mention that.