Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Individual Interdisciplinary Program

Joey Connor Larry Darrell: A Television/Streaming Series a Clef is a semi-autobiographical, limited-run scriptment/teleplay that draws upon the disciplines of Media Arts and Studies, English, and Philosophy, and is an exploration of the themes of mental illness, stigmatization, family dysfunction, psychological manipulation, diabetes, and forgiveness. It is about a man in his late adolescence who has awful family experiences and afterwards follows a path through life that is far from straight and smooth. Besides mental illness stemming from gaslighting, Joey also develops the chronic illnesses of diabetes and renal insufficiency, plus he suffers from various periods of homelessness. Despite these challenges, Joey never stops pursuing higher education, which he finds to be a great source of stability and solace. In this respect, Joey Connor Larry Darrell is an extended encomium to the powerful role higher education can play in helping individuals who face similar, significant personal challenges.

Committee: Jenny Nelson Dr. (Committee Chair); Robert Miklitsch Dr. (Committee Member); James Petrik Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: African Americans; Aging; Education; Families and Family Life; Film Studies; Health; Health Care; Higher Education; Mass Media; Mental Health; Motion Pictures; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Therapy