Confessions from an Antisocial Mind:
An analysis of Chuck Barris as he was portrayed in the movie
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Written by Chuck Barris and Charlie Kaufman
Produced by Andrew Lazar, Directed by George Clooney, (2002)
Kevin L. Heddwyn
Arizona State University
Dr. Elizabeth Valenti, Abnormal Psychology (PSY 366) Fall, 2014
Abstract
The creator of various television programs, Chuck Barris, is portrayed in the 2002 film “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” as a callous, disturbed individual that finds his way through an emotionally precarious time for himself including the decisions and behaviors leading up to that event. We begin the movie with a comment by Dick Clark setting the stage for an assumption that Chuck Barris didn’t have all the necessary ingredients for a happy life. We will examine how Chuck tried to lead his life the best he could have given the environment…show more content… As we find later there would be good reason for that to be true, but we are shown that the insomnia is a result of the catatonia, not an inability to sleep specifically. There is no evidence of psychomotor agitation, fatigue, or pronounced weight loss. We learn though narrated thoughts that Chuck is attempting to put meaning into his past. Through his “terror and shame” he will come to grips with the decisions he has made and what sense of normalcy he can outline for himself as he continues (Lazar & Clooney, 2002). He does not think of dying or killing himself. Also, the guilt he expresses in the narration at this point is justified and Chuck is able to analyze it for what it is. No, Chuck is not depressed to the point of disorder as he is not meeting six of the required criterion per the DSM-5. As the movie reveals more information we may be more certain of what is happening to him in this phase in 1981, for now the scenes shift to the past towards uncovering more information on Chuck
