Sister Sage, a character within the expansive and often shocking universe of American Horror Story: Asylum, does not receive a lobotomy in any episode. While the institution and its practices are frequently shown, Sister Sage avoids the procedure entirely.
Exploring the Lobotomies in American Horror Story: Asylum
The specter of the lobotomy looms large over Briarcliff Manor, the setting for American Horror Story: Asylum. It serves as a chilling reminder of the era’s brutal and often misguided approaches to mental healthcare. While Sister Sage remains untouched by this particular horror, many other patients are subjected to the procedure, raising complex ethical and historical questions. The series uses lobotomies to explore themes of power, control, and the dehumanizing effects of institutionalization.
The Power Dynamic and Lobotomies
Within Briarcliff, figures like Dr. Arden wield immense power, often making life-altering decisions about patients with little oversight. The lobotomy, portrayed as a quick fix for unruly or undesirable behavior, becomes a tool of control. Patients deemed “uncooperative” or “dangerous” face the threat of this procedure, effectively silencing dissent and enforcing compliance. This highlights the vulnerability of those confined to mental institutions and the potential for abuse within such systems.
The Historical Context
It’s crucial to remember that Asylum is set in the 1960s, a period when lobotomies, while already in decline, were still practiced in some institutions. While Dr. Walter Freeman, the most prominent advocate for the transorbital lobotomy, had largely fallen out of favor by this time, the procedure’s legacy continued to haunt the landscape of mental healthcare. The series does not shy away from depicting the procedure’s invasive nature and its often devastating consequences, reflecting the growing skepticism and eventual rejection of lobotomies as a legitimate treatment.
Dehumanization Through “Treatment”
The scenes involving lobotomies are often disturbing, precisely because they showcase the dehumanization inherent in such practices. Patients are reduced to mere subjects of experimentation, their individuality and autonomy stripped away. The procedure, intended to “cure” mental illness, often results in irreversible cognitive damage, further diminishing their humanity. The visual depiction of the lobotomy in Asylum serves as a powerful condemnation of the era’s flawed understanding of mental health and the unethical treatments that were sometimes employed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: Why is the lobotomy so prevalent in American Horror Story: Asylum?
The lobotomy is a central motif in Asylum because it effectively symbolizes the horrors of institutionalization and the misuse of power in the mental health system of the 1960s. It’s a visual and visceral representation of the extreme measures sometimes taken to control and “treat” patients, highlighting the ethical failures of that era. The show utilizes it to explore themes of sanity, identity, and the price of conformity.
FAQ 2: What is a lobotomy, and how was it performed?
A lobotomy is a surgical procedure that involves severing connections in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The goal was to reduce symptoms of mental illness, but it often resulted in significant cognitive and personality changes. One common method, the transorbital lobotomy, involved inserting an ice pick-like instrument through the eye socket to access the frontal lobe. This brutal procedure was often performed with minimal anesthesia and resulted in irreversible brain damage.
FAQ 3: Were lobotomies ever considered a legitimate medical treatment?
Yes, lobotomies were once considered a legitimate medical treatment, particularly in the mid-20th century. They were initially seen as a potential solution for severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and manic depression when other treatment options were limited. However, as the procedure’s side effects and ethical implications became clearer, its popularity waned.
FAQ 4: What are the potential side effects of a lobotomy?
The side effects of a lobotomy could be devastating, ranging from personality changes and emotional blunting to cognitive impairment, seizures, and even death. Patients often lost their ability to reason, make decisions, or experience a full range of emotions. Some became docile and apathetic, while others experienced severe behavioral problems.
FAQ 5: When did lobotomies fall out of favor as a medical treatment?
The use of lobotomies began to decline in the 1950s and 1960s, largely due to the development of effective antipsychotic medications and growing concerns about the procedure’s ethical implications and harmful side effects. The rise of deinstitutionalization also contributed to the decline, as patients were increasingly treated in community-based settings.
FAQ 6: Are lobotomies still performed today?
Lobotomies are extremely rare today. While modified forms of psychosurgery, such as cingulotomies and capsulotomies, are sometimes used to treat severe and treatment-resistant mental illnesses like obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, they are much more targeted and precise than the lobotomies of the past. These modern procedures aim to minimize side effects and improve patient outcomes.
FAQ 7: How does American Horror Story: Asylum portray mental illness?
American Horror Story: Asylum’s portrayal of mental illness is often sensationalized and exaggerated for dramatic effect. While the series touches on real issues like institutional abuse and the stigma surrounding mental illness, it also relies on stereotypes and tropes that can be harmful and inaccurate. It’s important to remember that Asylum is a work of fiction and should not be taken as a factual representation of mental health conditions.
FAQ 8: What are some other controversial medical practices featured in American Horror Story: Asylum?
Besides lobotomies, Asylum features other controversial medical practices, including electroshock therapy, hydrotherapy (waterboarding), and experimental surgeries. These practices are often depicted as brutal and dehumanizing, highlighting the unethical treatment of patients in mental institutions during that era. The series uses these depictions to explore themes of power, control, and the abuse of authority.
FAQ 9: How does the setting of Briarcliff Manor contribute to the overall atmosphere of horror in Asylum?
Briarcliff Manor, the dilapidated mental institution, serves as a character in itself, contributing significantly to the show’s overall atmosphere of horror. Its dark and imposing architecture, its history of abuse and neglect, and its isolation from the outside world create a sense of claustrophobia and despair. The setting reinforces the themes of confinement, powerlessness, and the loss of identity.
FAQ 10: What is the significance of the Catholic Church’s involvement in Briarcliff Manor?
The Catholic Church’s involvement in Briarcliff Manor adds another layer of complexity to the story. The presence of religious figures like Sister Jude and Monsignor Timothy Howard raises questions about faith, morality, and the role of the church in addressing mental illness. The conflict between faith and science, and the potential for hypocrisy within religious institutions, are recurring themes throughout the season.
FAQ 11: Who is Dr. Arden, and what role does he play in the horrors of Asylum?
Dr. Arden is one of the primary antagonists in Asylum. He is a twisted and unethical physician who conducts bizarre and often gruesome experiments on the patients of Briarcliff Manor. His pursuit of scientific knowledge at the expense of human dignity epitomizes the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dehumanizing effects of institutional power. He performs lobotomies and other cruel treatments with little regard for the well-being of his patients.
FAQ 12: What lessons can we learn from American Horror Story: Asylum about mental health and institutionalization?
While American Horror Story: Asylum is a work of fiction, it can prompt important conversations about the history of mental healthcare, the dangers of institutional abuse, and the importance of treating individuals with mental illness with compassion and respect. It serves as a reminder of the ethical failures of the past and the need for ongoing advocacy for improved mental health services and patient rights. It highlights the need to approach mental health with understanding, empathy, and a commitment to evidence-based treatment.