Critical Investigation: Project proposal

Working title
How does Netflix's ''13 Reasons Why'' glorify suicide and represent psychological issues?

Angle
What impact does the glorification of suicide have on audiences? How does the show stereotype youth behavior and ideologies? Should shows be able to discuss and portray sensitive issues, such as suicide, in an explicit way? 

Hypothesis
The show does glorify suicide by showing how a limited number of ''reasons'' can force someone to take their own life. The show is quite stereotypical of the youth as it suggests that ALL of them have gone through a similar situation as Hannah, the main character, and inevitably should consider ending their life, to get rid of their problems. The show also provides ways in which a depressed teenager, or an audience member who has identified with Hannah, can harm themselves and take revenge on the people that mistreated them. 

Linked production piece
A trailer for a TV show that explores suicide but in a non-explicit way. I was also thinking of creating an advert that explores some solutions to suicide to inform young people of the ways in which they could combat their depression/suicidal thoughts. 

MIGRAIN

Media Language/ Forms

• The scene shows us how she is reflecting on her life at school and the abuse she has faced- The ''reasons why'' could be relatable to some audience members. 
• She slits her wrists with the blade and cries out in pain. With her whole body quivering she lays in the bathtub until she bleeds to death- This scene is quite gruesome and disturbing, and shows how someone can kill themselves. 
• Her body language and facial expressions change throughout the scene and reflect her attitude towards her mistreatment. When she begins to cut herself she starts to groan/cry out in pain, and then slowly begins to breathe at a steady rate and lie down in the bathtub.
• The colour of the bathroom (white) connotes emptiness and innocence- 
• The close up of Hannah's face creates a sense of identification and makes the audience feel guilty, as she looks directly into the camera.

Institutions

• Produced by Anonymous Content & Distributed by Netflix. 
• Anonymous Content is known for producing other popular TV shows of a similar genre e.g Mr Robot (2015) and True Detective (2014).
• Netflix has become increasingly popular in the last few years and has had a range of popular shows that have gained a lot of controversy e.g Narcos, The Get Down. 
• There has been some debates over Netflix and how they still aired the series in the UK, even though it was restricted due to the explicit sexual/violent scenes
• However the show is said to have a ''warning'' displayed before their episodes

Genre 

• The major generic conventions of the text are that it revolves around high school students and their struggle with ''typical teenage psychological issues.'' 
• It also explores the contrast between ''life at home and at school'', which is often touched upon in various teen dramas such as ''Freaks and Geeks''(1999-2000) and ''My So-Called Life''(1994-95). 
• The text includes typical iconography such as the use of smartphones and messaging apps. 
• The major generic themes, again, explore the psychological issues that teenagers face, e.g depression and peer pressure.
• There are also some scenes in the show which depict rape and other sexual acts, that are only appropriate for mature audiences

Representations

• Hannah Baker as a vulnerable, depressed teenager, whose only option is to commit suicide after being ''mistreated'' by the people in her school.
• This representation is not necessarily fair and accurate as there have been some cases where a person, who has been having suicidal thoughts, has actually overcome them through a life-changing experience or therapy. 
• She is represented like this to show viewers that treating someone badly can affect the person's life and may lead them to thinking that they are inferior to others and unimportant. 
• It only follows the story of one person and essentially ''stereotypes'' victims of suicide/ depression
• ''vulnerable youth'' should not watch the show as it ''romanticises the choices made by the characters''- this again reiterates my point of how the show ''glorifies suicide'' and makes the actions of the characters seem desirable.

Audience

• The show is aimed at young adults (15-29), who are mostly female.
• Show is set in a high school/college- aimed at people who are currently attending a school; intended to inform young adults about the issues with discrimination/ bullying.
• Psychographics, the target audience would mostly consist of explorers- educated enough to comprehend the various issues and debates that the show is expressing
• The audience is mostly likely to consume the text on devices such as their phone, PC or tablet, as well as on TV. This could possibly impact the formal characteristics of the text as the show may just be a form of entertainment for some viewers (Uses and Gratifications).
• ''11 million tweets within a month of its release( Variety Magazine)- shows us that audience was particularly large, and most likely interested because of controversial messages on teen suicides and bullying. 

Ideologies and Values 

• Most teenagers/young adults in school either experienced or have been involved in issues such as bullying and discrimination.
• Highlights the idea of the ''marginalised youth''- the adults in the show don't pay attention to the lives and actions of the teenagers, until the main character kills herself. 
• The current issues that the show explores, that fit into the political landscape, would be the issue of drugs, and their availability and usage amongst a young demographic.
• The show includes characters that have drinking/ drug problems, which affect their behaviour towards other characters in the show. 
• Another issue could possibly be the type of education, teenagers receive at school - especially regarding subjects that teach students about social issues. Usually, schools offer lectures/assemblies on bullying and other issues concerning young people. 

Narrative

• The audience are positioned as the witnesses of Hannah's suicide, and at certain points maybe even the villains. 
• The close up of Hannah looking into the camera, along with the dialogue ''you could of done something'' (even though this comment is directed at the schools councillor) make the audience feel as if they contributed to the death of Hannah and could have essentially been one of the ''reasons why''.
• The audience may feel quite alienated in the suicide scene as it involves the main character, Hannah in her room alone. 
• It almost feels as if the audience are in the room with her , but cannot do anything to save her from killing herself. This use of identification in the scene makes it more gripping and intense, and essentially adds to the horror of the suicide. 
• The major themes of the narrative are suicide and the impact it has on the victims life- it affects the people they have known for example their family and friends. It also explores issues during her life and could possibly infer that they are most vulnerable when it comes to bullying. 

SHEP

Social 

• The ''glorificaton'' of suicide could encourage victims of suicidal thoughts/depression to take their own life
• There is a debate over whether or not the youth are in fact ''vulnerable" and "marginalized"
• Should controversial shows like this be available to teenagers? - leads to moral panic- is there a limit to how many explicit scenes can be watched by this demographic? Should is be completely realistic or symbolic, when expressing suicidal themes? 

Historical 

• Suicide is the most common amongst a younger demographic- it is believed to be the 3rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds 
• Does the existence of such tv shows (those with controversial and explicit themes) actually raise awareness on issues such as suicide? 
• TV shows are becoming more influential and controversial, in terms of their themes/ ideologies.  

Economic

Political 

• Producers of the show consulted with mental health experts during the creation of the first season
• The show was banned in some countries like New Zealand
• Some schools sent out emails to parents advising them not to allow their children to watch the show.

Issues/Debates

• Representation and stereotyping- The show stereotypes the younger demographic and assumes all teenagers go through psychological issues and suicidal thoughts. Also portrays them as ''marginalised'' 
• Media effects - Hypodermic needle theory- victims of suicidal thoughts and depression are forced to believe that they should take their life because they identify with the character. 
• Moral Panics - The show involves violent/ sexually explicit scenes which may cause moral panic amongst the older generation (especially parents) 
• Ownership and control- Netflix is an increasingly popular platform amongst the younger demographic. Includes controversial shows such as Narcos which also has some explicit themes and imagery e.g use of drugs , sex scenes. Shows are extremely influential and easily accessible. 
• Regulation and censorship- The show includes some explicit scenes, some places shown warning. Debate over whether they should have shown it.
• Media technology and the digital revolution – changing technologies in the 21st century- The show was available on Netflix, which could be used on any device- phone, TV, tablet etc. 

Theories

• Contagion Theory (Gustave LeBon 1896) - show has a ''hypnotic influence'' on young people and victims of suicidal thoughts and depression. Emotionally charged behaviour leads to them possibly committing suicide.  
• Uses and Gratification (Blumler and Katz) Personal Identificiation- an audience member might identify with the main character Hannah and mimic her actions. 
• Uses and Gratification (B&K)- Surveillance- Show informs audience on the possible effects of depression and suicidal thoughts. Also informs people on how their actions have consequences. 
• Shorthand For Identification (Medhurt )- show stereotypes victims of suicide and depression; applies Hannah's story to the whole group 
• Those with power stereotype the less powerful (Dyer)- Adults in the show as well as in real life see the youth as ''vulnerable'' and ''irresponsible'' . 

Research plan (media texts, academic texts and websites)

Media texts
13 Reasons Why

Other media texts
Logic's 1-800-273-8255 (2017)
Narcos (2015)
Mr Robot (2015)
A Girl Like Her (2015)

TV documentaries
Research videos online, e.g.:
Netflix- 13 Reasons Why- Beyond The Reasons (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry-TOaM2Kfk

Academic texts/books
Jay Asher: Thirteen Reasons Why (2007)
Kay Redfield Jamison: Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide (1999)
George Howe Colt: November of the Soul: The Enigma of Suicide (2006)
Janet Staiger: Media Reception Studies (2005)
Peter Lunt and Sonia Livingstone: Media Regulation: Governance and the Interests of Citizens and Consumers 

Internet Links
Newspaper Articles

• Netflix's 13 Reasons Why and the trouble with dramatising suicide - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/26/netflix-13-reasons-why-suicide
• Netflix drama '13 Reasons Why' blamed for inspiring teen girls' attempted suicide-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/22/netflix-drama-13-reasons-blamed-inspiring-teen-girls-attempted/ 
• 13 Reasons Why Review- sex, drugs and mixtapes in Netflix 's high-school horror show- https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/31/13-reasons-why-review-sex-drugs-and-mixtapes-in-netflix-high-school-horror-show
• Netfliz show condemned for "romanticing" teenager's suicide- https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/apr/21/netflix-13-reasons-why-condemned-for-romanticising-suicide
• 13 Reasons Why: New Zeakand bans under-18s from watching suicide drama without adult.- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/28/13-reasons-why-new-zealand-bans-under-18s-from-watching-suicide-drama-without-adult

2. At least FIVE from university websites/academic papers online. UseGoogle Scholar as a starting point.

• Internet searches for Suicide Following Release of 13 reasons Why-https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2646773?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social_jn&utm_term=1008920863&utm_content=content_engagement%7carticle_engagement&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=40398712
• Popular Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why sends out worrying messages about suicide-http://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/3785/1/Popular%20Netflix%20drama%2013%20Reasons%20Why%20sends%20out%20worrying%20messages%20about.pdf
• A Call for Social Responsibility and Suicide Risk Screening, Prevention and Early Intervention Following Release of the netflix series 13 Reasons Why -https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2646769
• Thirteen  Reasons to be concerned with 13 reasons why - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbl.30220/full
• Thirteen Reasons Why and the need for correct messages about teen depression and suicide - https://www.wcwonline.org/WCW-Blog-Women-Change-Worlds/13-reasons-why
• The Importance of Thirteen Reasons Why and its Reflection on Mental Health- https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2017/04/21/the-importance-of-13-reasons-why-and-its-reflection-of-teen-mental-health/

3. Any other relevant sites/articles - the more the better.

• http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/25/health/13-reasons-why-teen-suicide-debate-explainer/index.html
• http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/96211840/13-Reasons-Why-Australian-mental-health-groups-slam-Netflix-over-help-information-refusal