Behind the Smile: Dr. Jeff Preston on the Joker and Mental Health in Batman Films Artwork

Twenty-First Century Disability

Let's be honest. Life with a disability can be difficult. Luckily, we are living in the twenty-first century. This podcast is about how living in the modern world has helped people with disabilities to have fairly "normal" lives. Join me as we explore why this is and as I try to look at disability from a social model perspective and change how the world sees disability.

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Twenty-First Century Disability

Behind the Smile: Dr. Jeff Preston on the Joker and Mental Health in Batman Films

February 13, 2025 • Hollis Peirce • Season 3 • Episode 1

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In this compelling episode of Twenty-First Century Disability, we welcome Dr. Jeff Preston, a distinguished professor of Disability Studies at Western University. Dr. Preston discusses his insightful research on the depiction of mental health issues through the narratives of the Joker character in Batman films and examines themes of mental health and masculinity through the lens of popular television. His expertise sheds light on how these portrayals reflect and shape societal attitudes towards mental health and disability.

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