MovieChat Forums > Cats Don't Dance (1997) Discussion > A motion picture interpretation of Derea...

A motion picture interpretation of Derealization

posted 16 years ago by kelsci
19 replies | jump to latest

I have had many experiences with this psychiatric illness for years. I stumbled onto the cartoon network the other day and started to watch this movie. I just could not believe what I was seeing. An actual intrepretation of the defintion of Derealization in cartoon motion picture form unfolding right before my eyes, scene after scene captured on film produced on film from a script. I would not have thought in a million years that anything like this would even exist since my experiences were always caught on the whim; well, whis was on the whim too, but not 75 whim minutes long. If there are any mental health officials out there who are interested in the subject of Derealization, you ought to take a look at this film.

raygun-3

[–] Jnbfwc 15 years ago

So-- what are you saying, exactly?

That the movie is so disjointed that all sense of 'reality,' (or, more appropriately, the reality that the movie creates at first) is lost?

Are you insulting it?

Or what?

[–] kelsci 15 years ago

DEREALIZATION is a change in an individual's experience of their environment, where the world around him/her feels unreal and unfamiliar. Again, derealization,is caused by a change in the way senses percieve our surroundings due to sensitized, anxious, nerve signals reaching the brain.

Jnbfwc; Certain occurrences would strike me in a very odd way leaving me with a very odd feeling thru my life. These occurrences could last very briefly in most cases but a very few have stuck with me for nearly a lifetime. All I can say is that this movie is IMHO an interpretation of the above definition of DEREALIZATION and those occurrences that I have experienced.

From a psychological or psychiatric standpoint, IMHO, this movie is great, other than that, it is little else.

raygun-3

[–] soadlover1 15 years ago

Can you describe Derealization in lameman's terms for me please? I tried looking it up on wikipedia but it's to complcated.

He's a real nowhere man

[–] AfterMidnight 15 years ago

Ummm can u give examples of how of Derealization disorder has anything to do with this film? I'm a Psychology major and I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, and I can normally find something to do with Psychology in anything.

[–] kelsci 15 years ago

The description I gave is the best description I know of the phenomena. I discussed it with my psychiatrist 19 years ago. A close type of form of derealization experience however would be the experience of deja vu or precognition. That is the best that I can do.

raygun-3

[–] Jnbfwc 15 years ago

Derealization: an alteration in perception leading to the feeling that the reality of the world has been changed or lost.

That's as simple as you can put it, unless I were to make it so simple that the meaning of the word might be lost:

Change how you look at things to such a great magnitude that you feel as though the reality of the world is different or gone completely.

Either way, instead of answering my question, he (and I'm using this is the literary sense of the word) just defined the word to me, then reiterated that the movie, indeed, does what he already has stated that it does.

Are you saying that the movie demonstrates how one's perception can be changed in such a way? Are you saying that YOUR perception was changed in this way?
I just don't get it.

[–] kerrex 15 years ago

Perhaps it was the first non-Disney 2d animated film he ever watched, and it had a different type of style to it, and he now sees what other artforms can be like.

[–] thecalhouns 15 years ago

uhhhhhhh...

back in 98 I did a titty comedy for Skinemax. Sex Camp, ya remember it?

[–] TheBalladofGriseldaGunderson 15 years ago

I think this thread is an interpretation of Derealization...

The OP is very vague in their post and does not take the time to explain his beliefs. How are we supposed to respond to such a thing? Please explain what you mean. Is the movie separate from other films for some reason? I really want to understand what you mean.

Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty

[–] StarskyandChinaHutch 13 years ago

This... Lameman, you speak of. Who is he? Is this some new superhero blockbuster I've not been notified of? To the bus depot!

Who busts the Crimebusters?

[–] grrrdevin 12 years ago

By the power of mediocrity, it's... LAME-MAN!

"I've been living on toxic waste for years, and I'm fine. Just ask my other heads!"

[–] nekoawake 14 years ago

that's interesting you should make that connection. I can see where you're going with this. I had to go back and watch a bit of the movie, but I believe I can see where one would make that conclusion - as the settings in the movie are all definitely very realistic, normal settings, and the film takes on this extreme unfamiliarity with its vibrant colors, music and dance. Which really, is the trademark of a lot of musicals and cartoons.

[–] kelsci 14 years ago

I have not have any incidences of derealization for awhile though I do think about this topic often. "CATS" has been recently on one or two satellite channels and I think in high-def at that. I would have to take another look at this film myself but at the time of my first post on this thread that was the feeling that I got from watching this film. I think that derealization can run from the very harmless to the very harmful. In the "very harmful" category might mean serial killers or sexual offenders as an example.

raygun-3

[–] Jnbfwc 12 years ago

So are you saying that while watching this movie, you had a sense of derealization that lasted the entire length thereof?

[–] SacrifyX 10 years ago

You really need to watch Eraserhead.
How often do you take drugs?
Just reading all this is derealization to me.

[–] zipdraw 13 years ago

Whoa.... My mind has been seriously blown... I just sat here reading this whole thread and then wikipedia... I am taking a break from all this info and gunna play some video games... which might not be a better Idea lol. Interesting thread! XD

[–] imnotinsane1 12 years ago

If this to you is the pinnacle of derealization, then god forbid you watch anything from David Lynch or Christopher Nolan.

[–] jbhutt0 11 years ago

I think I get what OP is(er was) saying with this. The movie does have a very surreal nature to it. But more than that there's something about the pacing of certain parts that heightens the experience.

[–] askmonroville 11 years ago

I believe that what the original poster is describing is the visual effect the movie employs, such as the scene where the casting director turns them all away, but Danny jumps out and starts to sing to them and gets their spirits up. As he does this, the color of the surroundings and the characters grow brighter and more colorful (to indicate the change of their attitude and their perception of their surroundings). This continues especially during most of the musical numbers.