Questions: Can death in art be beautiful? What media examples depict this kind of ‘grotesque beauty’? (e.g

Illustrated Haiku

Waka

Song

Children’s book

Dramatic scene

Butoh dance

Protest speech

Campaign speech

TV/radio ad

Talk Show

Billboard ad (poster)

4/Part Four: Suicide and Seppuku

Aim

By the end of this section, students will be able to identify and elaborate on a variety of contexts related to suicide, its glamorisation and prevention. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the identifying factors of marginalised or isolated individuals. They will draw inspiration from popular music and Bukowski poetry to create a list of warning signs and preventative strategy action sheets. Using internet news articles, they will form arguments for or against bands and music genres often blamed for glamorising or instigating suicide and violence. Finally, students will investigate a different angle of suicide—that of honour—in the Japanese seppuku, reserved for doomed samurai. They will compare the tradition to ‘Hollywood’ parodies of the act. They will use their knowledge to engage in an informed verbal and written persuasive debate over the depiction of suicide in popular media and what steps need to be taken to uphold a more responsible position in our culture.

Suggested Materials: computers for internet research and creative projects, data projector, YouTube videos of “Born this Way” and traditional seppuku ceremony, speakers, mp3 player, music and student copies of lyrics for “Born This Way” and “Adam’s Song,” student copies of Bukowski’s The Laughing Heart, posterboard, textas, cameras, camcorders, video editing software.

Introduction

Suicide is a relevant issue to teenagers not only because of its representation in classic literature and modern music, but because of the social fragility teenagers are often forced to deal with. Many students in high school experience social, physical and emotional obstacles every day, and hence become marginalized and alienated. Many schools employ anti-bullying campaigns, school counsellors and peer support workers which all assist in an effort to bring a whole-school approach to eliminating bullying and identifying the warning signs of depression and suicide.

Tip: Before the unit commences, make sure you discuss the sensitivity of the subject of suicide. Read the following statement or something of its nature: “In the next few lessons we will be covering a very sensitive issue. You may be affected personally by the topic that we are discussing today, or you may know someone else who is. Please be respectful and thoughtful of others, and treat the subject responsibly. If you would like to talk to someone after the lesson, you can talk to…” (e.g. you as their teacher, school counsellor, welfare coordinator, etc.)

Questions:

1. 
   What do you know about suicide?
   
2. 
   Do you know anyone famous or anyone personally who has done it?
   
3. 
   What do you think are the main causes of teen suicide?
   
4. 
   Who is bullied? Why are they bullied? How does it lead to suicide?
   
5. 
   What preventative strategies or organisations are available?
   
6. 
   Why does it still happen?
   

Activities

Born This Way by Lady Gaga

Lyric Analysis (See Appendices 4.1)

Students divide into groups—one group for each stanza—and put the lyrics into their own words. What is this song about? What literary devices are used? Why are certain words and phrases repeated?

Listen to the song

Thinking Music

Using the chart in (See Appendices 4.2), students brainstorm words, thoughts and images they think of while listening to the song. Combine student responses into a large class concept map.

Genretized

What if the song was done in a different genre? Would it change the message? Would the language be different? Students choose a different genre of music and re-write the lyrics to fit the style while maintaining the original message. If the message has changed, students must provide a written justification.

Watch the film clip

In small groups, students record and discuss the use of the following imagery: homosexuality, heterosexuality, sensuality, death, love, acceptance, equity, grotesque. Why do you think Lady Gaga chose to make the video for this song look like this?

Impact

Many young people idolize Lady Gaga for her style, attitude and equal rights advocacy. One boy, Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old bullied gay boy, thanked Lady Gaga in his last video blog entry before committing suicide. Lady Gaga has since dedicated songs to him and other suicide victims in her live performances. Unfortunately, Lady Gaga has also come under fire by some conservative groups, who state that her persona encouraged Jamey to behave in such a way that would incite bullying. Hence, she has been partly blamed for his suicide.

Blame Game

Research other artists, bands, music genres, video games, TV shows and movies which have been blamed for influencing teen suicide or violence. Do you think they are responsible? If so, how? If not, what or who is to blame, and why have these mediums come under fire? How is death, violence and suicide glamorized in these examples?

Advertisement

Design an advertisement for a human rights organisation or a suicide prevention campaign targeting LGBT at-risk youth. Draw inspiration from the quote below by gay rights activist and first gay politician to be elected to public office in the U.S., Harvey Milk:

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