Due to the graphic depictions of rape, suicide, body shaming, and drunk driving in the Netflix original series “13 Reasons Why”, the series has been deemed controversial to some of the public.
“Its powerful storytelling may lead impressionable viewers to romanticize the choices made by the characters and/or develop revenge fantasies,” reports the National Association of School Psychologists on why it recommends youth dealing with these issues to not watch it. “They may easily identify with the experiences portrayed and recognize both the intentional and unintentional effects on the central character”.
At California State University Stanislaus, (Stan State) not many students have surprisingly watched the show.
The Signal newspaper ran a Twitter poll asking their followers, primarily Stan State students, if they have watched the show. Out of the 26 people that voted in the poll, 65 percent said they hadn’t watched the show while the other 35 percent said that they had.
Harry Harris (junior, Communication Studies) watched the show and believes that there were some aspects that it did correctly and some where they missed the mark.
“Kinda made it more real, I think that was the whole idea of the show was to say this is a real thing and this is how gruesome it can be,” Harris said about the realism of the subject matter. “I think that they could have addressed the idea of depression a lot better, and the option of suicide (because) they kind of glamorized it.”
Yulisma Lomeli (junior, Liberal Studies) has also watched the show and has a critique of the show.
“They did a good job in showing in people relating to the high school drama, but they didn’t really touch base in how it is with the family,” Lomeli said about what she liked and disliked about the show.
Dr. Jessica Lambert (Assistant Professor, Psychology and Child Development) incorporates how the media shows mental health in her teachings.
“I give my students and assignment to find articles in the media about mental health, we discuss the articles and the degree to which the media has accurately covered the issue,” Dr. Lambert said. “It is important that members of the media are aware of promoting false stereotypes about mental illness.”
Alex Aust (Coordinator of Resident Community Engagement) helps students who might be feeling suicidal while living in the dorms at Stan State.
“Resident Assistant (RA) or myself will speak to the student and figure out what they mean when they said the comments,” Aust said on how the dorms treat students who are suicidal. “We will call University Police if it is serious, and they will evaluate the student on-site and will determine if the student is okay or have to go to the hospital”.
Lomeli still has not grasped the complexities of the show’s subject matter.
“I have not really thought it through, I haven’t wrapped my head on how to feel about the show,” Lomeli said.
Despite the controversy revolving the series, its popularity has not been harmed and continues to be a topic of discussion and was just renewed for a second season.