I am an academic, advocate, and mentor. I’ve studied psychology, sociology, adolescence, feminism and gender, and media studies within and outside of universities for more than twenty years. I have a Master’s degree in Social Science and I stay current with research journals and literature.
I am also an avid consumer of pop culture. I use my fandom to express myself, to build and foster community, and to create connections with my audience.
My research interests are in the portrayal of trauma and mental health in mainstream media and the complexities of narrative therapy in practice.
Mental Health in the Movies
- Arcane‘s Jinx as psychotic representation (Arcane: League of Legends)
- The Dying Swan (Black Swan)
- The Limitations of Brightness(All the Bright Places)
- From Girl to King: Borderline Personality Disorder (Girl, Interrupted and The King of Staten Island)
- The Doctor Wonderful Problem (Good Will Hunting and Antwone Fisher)
More coming soon.
Academic Research
Personal Essays
- Anakin Daenerys: On the concept of blorbo and other characters who are mine
- Motherless: At age twenty-one I was the eldest person in my whole family
- Coffee Shop AU: Depression is the Borg and Seven of Nine is also named Annika
What does MALS mean?
“MA” means I went to school for a total of 21 years. I attended 12 years of public education, 4 years at Brandeis University for my BA, and 5 years at Wesleyan University for my Master’s degree (part time because I’m a working single mom).
“LS” stands for “Liberal Studies” and means I designed my own program of study. I focus on the intersections of pop culture and mental health so my concentration was Social Sciences. I mainly took courses in Psychology, Anthropology, and Media Studies.
How are you defining pop culture?
I include: film, television, streaming video, novels, poetry, graphic novels and comics, animation, theater, dance, music, visual arts, fashion, memes, toys and collectibles, social media, food and drink, sports, video games, architecture, amusement parks, pets.
How do you identify?
I am a cisgender woman in my forties. I live in the same small New England suburban city/college town I grew up in and work for the same college my father worked for. Politically I’m a leftist, a bohemian revolutionary or anarcho-communist. I am panromantic asexual but mainly attracted to fictional characters. I am spiritual but not religious. I am neurodivergent with a history of anxiety and a diagnosis of Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorder.
What does ‘Pixie’ refer to?
It refers to the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ trope, which I self-identify as, and to Tinker Bell, the fairy of Peter Pan and Disneyland fame. You can read more about both in this essay.
I have another question.
Please feel free to contact me on bluesky or email: anika@manicpixiedust.com.