Task #6: Introduction

Intro
  • 13 reasons why- brief summary- highlight issues and debates
  • Representation of mental health and suicide in the media- problem with glorification
  • Mention films that have dealt with suicide
"And she died alone. And you could have stopped it. And I could have."  

There have been many debates over the representation of suicide in the media and its ambiguous meanings and messages that it presents to the audience. Inevitably there is always controversy over displaying explicit scenes in film and TV. The Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" (2017) created by Brian Yorkey, is a teen drama about Hannah, a high school student who commits suicide after being mistreated by the people in her school. The show follows the stories of 13 people who contributed to the death of Hannah, who she sends tapes to, which explain how they have had an impact on her. In the last episode, Hannah's suicide is explicitly shown to the audience to inform them on how suicide is a major issue in today's society. However, there have been many debates regarding the show's use of explicit scenes, as some have argued that the series in fact, glorifies suicide and makes it seem desirable, especially to a younger audience. This significant issue was explored in the 80s cult classic"The Breakfast Club"(1985), where we could argue that the theme of suicide was not taken as seriously as more recent films and TV shows. This touches upon the idea that society has become more emotionally literate towards sensitive issues such as suicide and mental health. Additionally, other films such as "Elephant" (2003) and "Bowling for Columbine" (2002), explore the relationship between mental health and high school shootings. This is also another important debate as it explores the issue of mental health amongst teenagers and how it can have an impact on their behaviour. This essay will explore the representation of mental health in 13 Reasons Why and the glorification of suicide in the media.

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