Showtime Airs United States of Tara About DID
Steven Spielberg: New Series Explores Dissociative Identity Disorder
Jan 18, 2009
The United States of Tara is the new original series on Showtime, from Steven Spielberg. The series portrays the struggle of a woman with multiple personalities and her family. The series premiere, on January 18, 2009, introduces Tara (Tony Colette) and her three alter egos, along with her very understanding husband Max (John Corbett); son Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) and daughter Kate (Brie Larson).
Tara appears to be a normal wife and mother, until she gets stressed and switches personalities. The program features how her family never knows which personality will show up when they come home from work and school. They are familiar with all four distinct personalities and even talk to them about Tara.
Four Personalities of Tara
Tara has Dissociative Identity Disorder and has four distinct personalities. The host personality is Tara, the typical suburban wife and mother. Tara’s alternate personalities are Alice, Buck and T.
- Tara – Tara is a working mother of two who paints murals for the nursery rooms of rich people. Tara juggles home, work and family but when she gets stressed, one of her alter egos may appear. Tara lives a chaotic existence and the multiple personalities may help her to deal with situations that she cannot control
- Alice – Alice is the perfect homemaker who takes care of her family sweetly and bakes delicious cakes.
- Buck – Buck is a male character who likes beer, bars and motorcycles.
- T – T is a 15 year old alter-ego, a wild-living, pot-smoking teenager
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
The United States of Tara should bring awareness of the condition to the public, promoting understanding about the complicated condition of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
The Showtime website has information about Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. The disorder causes people with use the defense mechanism of dissociation to push intolerable realities to the side.
In DID a personality switch causes one personality to replace another. Some patients with DID may be able to call forth a particular personality to handle particular situation. The different personalities usually have some awareness of what the others are doing.
Cast of United States of Tara
- Tony Colette as Tara
- John Corbett as Max - Tara’s saintly husband, a hard working husband and father who adores his wife and family.
- Keir Gilchrist as Marshall a sensitive 14 year old boy
- Brie Larson as Kate - teenage daughter with boy problems
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Charmaine, Tara’s single sister
- Diablo Cody Executive Producer
- Steven Spielberg Executive Producer
The United States of Tara premieres on Sunday, January 18, 2009. The program airs on Sunday nights on Showtime at 10 PM Eastern Time.
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