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Charcot and recent French cinema.

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Title: Charcot and recent French cinema.
Authors: St-Denis, Ariane (AUTHOR), Massie, Rami (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. Apr-Jun2025, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p368-377. 10p.
Subjects: French films, Women patients, Hypnotism, Scientific method, Hysteria, Neurology
Abstract: In the scientific world, Professor Jean-Martin Charcot is known for his contribution to the establishment of the anatomo-clinical method in neurology in Paris at the Salpêtrière hospital. However, media attention in the late 1800s has focused on his work on hysteria. In this article, we aim to review how he has been depicted in two recent French movies: Augustine (2012) and Le Bal des Folles (The Mad Women's Ball) (2021). We will compare his image in those two films to articles at the time of his death and contrast how he is represented in other biographical works. Both in the newspapers and in the movies, Charcot's public lessons and experimental work on hypnosis in hysteria are put forward. The two movies offer a new perspective, as both directors were women, and both movies focus on a woman patient's journey at La Salpêtrière. His depiction remains superficial in Le Bal des Folles, portraying a cold, insensitive, and despotic approach to patients. He plays a more central role in Augustine, in which he develops intimacy with one of his patients and a more human and caring side is displayed, in parallel to his authoritative and meticulous figure. Both movies refer to him as a divine authority, but they also allude to his scientific method. In summary, Charcot's recent representations in cinema add a woman's perspective to life under Charcot at La Salpêtrière, which continues to shape further the image we have of this founder of modern neurology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of the History of the Neurosciences is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Charcot and recent French cinema.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22St-Denis%2C+Ariane%22">St-Denis, Ariane</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Massie%2C+Rami%22">Massie, Rami</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+History+of+the+Neurosciences%22">Journal of the History of the Neurosciences</searchLink>. Apr-Jun2025, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p368-377. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22French+films%22">French films</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Women+patients%22">Women patients</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hypnotism%22">Hypnotism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+method%22">Scientific method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hysteria%22">Hysteria</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurology%22">Neurology</searchLink>
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  Data: In the scientific world, Professor Jean-Martin Charcot is known for his contribution to the establishment of the anatomo-clinical method in neurology in Paris at the Salpêtrière hospital. However, media attention in the late 1800s has focused on his work on hysteria. In this article, we aim to review how he has been depicted in two recent French movies: Augustine (2012) and Le Bal des Folles (The Mad Women's Ball) (2021). We will compare his image in those two films to articles at the time of his death and contrast how he is represented in other biographical works. Both in the newspapers and in the movies, Charcot's public lessons and experimental work on hypnosis in hysteria are put forward. The two movies offer a new perspective, as both directors were women, and both movies focus on a woman patient's journey at La Salpêtrière. His depiction remains superficial in Le Bal des Folles, portraying a cold, insensitive, and despotic approach to patients. He plays a more central role in Augustine, in which he develops intimacy with one of his patients and a more human and caring side is displayed, in parallel to his authoritative and meticulous figure. Both movies refer to him as a divine authority, but they also allude to his scientific method. In summary, Charcot's recent representations in cinema add a woman's perspective to life under Charcot at La Salpêtrière, which continues to shape further the image we have of this founder of modern neurology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the History of the Neurosciences is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0964704X.2024.2362110
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 368
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      – SubjectFull: French films
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Women patients
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hypnotism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hysteria
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      – SubjectFull: Neurology
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      – TitleFull: Charcot and recent French cinema.
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            NameFull: Massie, Rami
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr-Jun2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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