Episode 37: Adolescent Mental Health in Mid90s
Trigger Warning: Self-Harm
This one brings a lot of nostalgia to the table. We're talking skateboarding, baggy shirts, small parties, and the Mid90s. Jonah Hill's Mid90s is an intense look at the life of a 13 year old boy who's growing up in an abusive household. Masculinity plays a huge role in the issues Stevie is dealing with, as well as influence from his group of friends, and possibly even the role his estranged father played before he was even born.
Movie Synopsis
Stevie is a 13 year old boy growing up in the 1990’s Los Angeles area. He seems like a sweet and kind kid, and he is, but he’s also angry and lonely and physically abused by his older brother, Ian.
Stevie is looking for friends, and he finds them in a group of rowdy teens down at the local skate shop. Stevie is taken. He immediately wants to be like them and buys himself a board with stolen money from his mom's drawer.
His new friends nickname him sunburn and they all start to get closer to each other, however, in between all of this good fun, we see the dark side to Stevie's life as well. He continues to get pummeled by his brother, he is filled with anger and takes that out on himself with pain, he also starts smoking and partying.
There’s a lot to be said to the loyalty he finds in his friends, and we do see him grow throughout the summer, but we don’t land in a happily ever after place. We end in the hospital after a drunk driving accident where Stevie was hurt. Nonetheless, friends by his side destined to continue on in the same place we started
Episode Diagnosis
Ryan:
5 of 5 "360 Pop Shove-Its" for the portrayal of adolescents and coming of age
Mike:
5 of 5 "Last Caresses" - Excellent movie. Frightening and real. Would watch many times and share with friends
Pop Psych 101 is a weekly mental health podcast hosted by Therapist, Ryan Engelstad, and advocate, Mike Graham. They analyze the portrayal of mental health in pop culture and discuss the accuracy, for better or worse.