MEST4 Coursework

How does ''13 Reasons Why'' represent mental health issues and can it be argued that it glorifies suicide?  Research (UK ) adverts re: mental health (e.g Samaritans, Sane line...) and identify how they're similar/ different to 13 Reasons Why  Economic contexts: Netflix- institutional info, net worth, profits also cost of mental health to economy( Guardian)  Social media promotion of show (for teenagers) - what support does it give?  Moral panics: research Cohen &link theory to text, media amplification, does the media influence teens?, is the problem exaggerated?  Improvements 1. Working Title:   How does ''13 Reasons Why'' represent mental health issues and can it be argued that it glorifies suicide?  2. Research adverts Samaritans Suicide Prevention Advert The advert is quite similar to "13 reasons why" as it targets a young demographic, however they have a male playing the victim. Also the advert shows the...

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 n...

Feedback- Mr Bush  Significance : 4/5 Structure : 4/5 Simplicity : 4/5 Rehearsal : 4/5 Overall : 16/20- 80% WWW:   Good textual analysis of the suicide scene- included audience response. The slides were well designed, with good use of gifs. Reference to representation theory, such as Medhurst and Dyer. You explored wider contexts by referring to issues and debates such as youth alienation and psychological issues amongst youngsters. Good reference to Netflix and other texts. You also linked it to new and digital media/ social media. The presentation also covers audience demographics and pleasures. You had a very good conclusion, with reference to your own views. Overall, it was a very methodical approach. EBI: You could have included more background context, and expressed your own views (critical autonomy) on wider issues and debates. There was too much text on ''reading'' slides. You could have also improved your body language (look at the audience). Furthe...

Feedback (Peer Assessment by Nasteha) WWW: Good information, included most of the MIGRAIN key concepts. Good use of pictures and also linked it to contextual research- e.g other TV shows with similar concept. EB1:  Maybe you could have included less text. Could have gone into more detail on the analysis of the suicide scene.

Media Representations  In the clip we see Hannah Baker as a vulnerable, depressed teenager, whos only option is to commit suicide after being ''mistreated'' by the people in her school who were once her so called ''friends''. 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. 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. It only follows the story of one person and essentially ''stereotypes'' victims of suicide/ depression. This links to Dyer's theory of how ''those with power stereotype the less powerful'', as the teen dramas always portray the youth as vulnerable people, who are incapable of dealin...

Articles ''A school in Canada banned all references to the show completely, and some schools have had to issue statements warning parents about the material.''-  http://uk.businessinsider.com/13-reasons-why-controversy-suicide-dangerous-2017-5/#theres-also-extremely-graphic-content-in-the-show-involving-sexual-assault-and-suicide-the-creators-of-the-show-call-the-violent-scene-depicting-hannahs-suicide-necessary-8  -  S imilarly in the show, the parents of the students in school are warned of the death of Hannah. Some audiences may believe that the show is actually quite acurrate and be encouraged to do the same thing as Hannah did, in hope of a similar reaction. ''Instead of showcasing the tragic ending to a life, we witness a school become captivated by the drama of suicide.'' - ''There is something grossly optimistic in portraying a suicide not as a random, irrational act, but as something explicable, even casual, with potentially good con...