Youth and Suicide in American Cinema
Context, Causes, and Consequences
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Beschreibung
This book explores the depiction of suicide in American youth films from 1900 to 2019. Anchored in Sociology, this multidisciplinary study investigates the causes and consequences of suicide and uncovers the socio-cultural context for the development of youth, film, and suicide. While such cinematic portrayals seem to privilege external explanations of suicide versus internal or psychological ones, overall they are neither rich nor sensitive. Most are simplistic, limited or at the very least unbalanced. At times, they are flatly controversial. In light of this overall problematic depiction of suicide, this book offers a proactive approach to empower young audiences—a media literacy strategy to embrace while watching these films.
Alessandra Seggi is a Fulbright scholar and an award-winning artist. At Temple University, USA, her research and teaching focus on the intersection of the social sciences and media. She is currently working on an innovative project combining drawings with rhymes and traditional texts to illustrate the key dynamics of social life.This book explores the depiction of suicide in American youth films from 1900 to 2019. Anchored in Sociology, this multidisciplinary study investigates the causes and consequences of suicide and uncovers the socio-cultural context for the development of youth, film, and suicide. While such cinematic portrayals seem to privilege external explanations of suicide versus internal or psychological ones, overall they are neither rich nor sensitive. Most are simplistic, limited or at the very least unbalanced. At times, they are flatly controversial. In light of this overall problematic depiction of suicide, this book offers a proactive approach to empower young audiences—a media literacy strategy to embrace while watching these films.
Analyses suicide in youth films Multidisciplinary framework rooted in Sociology Offers a proactive approach for young audiences to watch movies as empowered individuals
Autor*in
Alessandra Seggi
Themen in »Youth and Suicide in American Cinema«
Suicide in American youth films Suicide in film American high school film Hollywood film 13 Reasons Why suicide in fiction films The Virgin Suicides Critical media literacy Media literacy strategy Media literacy strategy for young audiences
Stimmen zu »Youth and Suicide in American Cinema«
“Seggi’s Youth and Suicide in American Cinema: Context, Causes, and Consequences is an excellent study that is, at the same time, a highly informative and thorough exploration of the depiction of suicide and suicidality in American youth films as well as a well-researched study that investigates the socio-cultural and psychological causes and consequences of suicide. … Seggi’s study represents an important contribution to the understanding of the complex relationship between youth, suicide, and its cinematic representation.” (Paolo Stellino, Cinema - Journal of Philosophy and the Moving Image, Vol. 16 (1), 2024)
“The author is nothing but generous in providing context and in explicating her theoretical, methodological, and conceptual frameworks, which are sure to be helpful to readers who are unfamiliar with the literature on suicide and its representational history. … Seggi’s book is a vital contribution to the literature that goes beyond the pathologizing and individualizing tendencies that are so prevalent in mainstream suicidology research.” (Mike F. Alvarez, Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, Vol. 8 (2), 2024)
“The book is written as an act of service for all unfortified youth, reading like a voice that cuts through static to say, ‘I’m here, I’m listening.’ To take things up a level, this book is not just a helpful tool for youth but also for anyone who has been affected by suicide. …” (Kate Brennan, Fulbright Chronicles, Vol. 2 (4), 2024)
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“Seggi’s interdisciplinary evaluation of this serious topic is a necessary addition to the research on youth and their sensitive roles in American culture. Taking perspectives from the fields of film studies, media literacy, sociology, psychology, and public health, the analysis is both precise and proactive, offering an insightful accounting of trends and influences related to teen suicide while building an effective model for understanding youth media and empowering this vulnerable population. The book is thus essential as both a unique intellectual resource and a pedagogical tool that will serve teachers and students alike.” (Timothy Shary Author of Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema Co-editor of ReFocus: The Films of John Hughes)
“Located at the intersection of sociology, media studies, and psychology, Alessandra Seggi’s Youth and Suicide in American Cinema: Context, Causes, and Consequences offers a methodologically rigorous, theoretically rich, and comprehensive analysis of suicide in films about youth. It is an important contribution to the growing literature about representations of adolescence in cinema.” (Robert C. Bulman Professor, Sociology Saint Mary’s College of California Author of Hollywood Goes to High School: Cinema, Schools, and American Culture)
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