Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze current videos posted to TikTok and Instagram which contained the topics of mental health and body image. I defined trends between such videos and analyzed the themes that appeared between them; I did not aim to understand their impact, but instead showed the reader what is being posted in relation to the aforementioned topics. I utilized rhetorical criticism methods, specifically narrative criticism, to fully understand the narratives posted to TikTok and Instagram. Once I determined the major themes presented in the TikTok and Instagram videos, I compared them against past literature and media depictions to see if previous media depictions of mental health disorders and eating disorders were the same as current media depictions. I discovered three main objectives in these videos: encouraging action, educating, and community building. Narrators were overall successful in communicating these messages, even if the messages had negative impacts on the audience. Similarities between past and current literature surrounding eating disorders and mental illness include the glamorization of skinny bodies and eating disorders in media.

Advisor

Johnson, Michelle

Department

Communication Studies

Disciplines

Broadcast and Video Studies | Social Media | Speech and Rhetorical Studies

Keywords

TikTok, Instagram, Social Media, Video, Reel

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Maud E. Utstein