Graduation Date
12-2015
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Communication and Media Studies
Department or Program Chair
Bradley Van Alstyne, MA
First Reader
Mairi Pileggi, PhD
Abstract
According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD, it’s recorded that, “approximately 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11-20%) who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year”. In my research study, my focus is to better understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, how prevalent it is in military veterans, and how the media (Hollywood) projects our veterans to be to the public. There are three important questions I have put together to further explore my topic without losing direction on my prime focus. The three questions I will research and seek answers for start out blunt and simple. The first question I have put together is, “What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? What are the signs and symptoms?” next I ask, “Does Hollywood accurately portray veterans who come home from war and suffer from PTSD? How so, or how did they not? Examples” and finally, “how have Hollywood war films depicted PTSD war veterans who come home?” Research questions are highly valuable to a research project because it allows a researcher, such as myself to stay focused and stay on track with their topic and “end goal” or conclusion.
Included in
Film and Media Studies Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons