This book is a unique study of the historical, theoretical, and cultural interpretations of ‘madness’ including interviews with those who have experiences of ‘madness’. It takes a trans disciplinary approach, employing historical, psychological, and sociological perspectives through an intersectional lens. This work explains how the prioritization of thinking over feeling in Western thought means the transrational imagination has frequently been negated in tackling mental health with detrimental results. This book, therefore, examines creative media, especially film, as a transrational form of human expression for healing and wellbeing, along with television, theatre, social media, music, and computer games. ‘Madness’ with regards to gender, sexuality, adolescence, and class in media and film is interrogated, as well as ‘madness’ and race through a focus on colonialism, post-colonialism, and psychiatry. It analyses group psychosis, including celebrity culture, and the ‘madness’ ofleaders and gurus. This book challenges the lasting influence of the Age of Reason by furthering our understanding of the value of transrationality and the diverse ways of being human.

• Transrational Imagination: Advocates for recognizing creative media as vital for healing and wellbeing.
• Media Analysis: Investigates film, television, theatre, social media, music, and computer games as expressions of human experience.
• Intersectional Focus: Analyzes ‘madness’ in relation to gender, sexuality, adolescence, class, and race.
• Colonial and Post-Colonial Perspectives: Explores the implications of colonialism and post-colonialism on psychiatric practices.
• Group Psychosis: Examines phenomena such as celebrity culture and the ‘madness’ of leaders and gurus.
• Challenging Rationality: Aims to deepen understanding of transrationality and the diverse human experiences related to mental health.