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.

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