Stranger Things Psychology
Life Upside Down
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- $21.99
Publisher Description
Monsters of the Upside Down, beware!
Travis Langley (author of the acclaimed Batman and Psychology) returns with a group of expert contributors to explore these and other questions to shine a light on true human nature through the Netflix series and cultural phenomenon, Stranger Things.
When do feelings of grief, guilt, depression, fear, and isolation tear us down, and how do we transform them into hope, inspiration, forgiveness, acceptance, and motivation to do what's right? Growing up is hard enough without metaphors for the dangers that lurk in life's shadows springing to life in the form of monsters, villains, conspiracies, and enemy soldiers.
How do we navigate friendships to unite against bullying and its many forms?What happens to missing persons' families or those once lost upon their return?Can games and fantasy help us connect with others and make sense of real life?
Stranger Things Psychology: Life Upside Down descends into the dark side of adolescence to find the light on the other side of the ultimate coming-of-age story.
Contributors:
Travis Adams * Jenna Busch * Shelly Clevenger * Erin Currie * Victor Dandridge Jr. * Andrea Frantz * Larisa A. Garski * Wind Goodfriend * Vanessa Hintz * J. Scott Jordan * Greta Kaluzeviciute * Alex Langley * Kevin Lu * Harpreet Malla * Justine Mastin * Brittani Oliver Sillas-Navarro * Leandra Parris * Billy San Juan * Janina Scarlet * William Sharp * Benjamin A. Stover * Eric D. Wesselmann
The proceeds go to help rescue and assist missing and exploited children.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Henderson State University psychology professor Langley (Batman and Psychology) collects essays that mine pop culture supernova Stranger Things for psychological insight in this stellar anthology. Written by mental health professionals, academics, and even a criminologist, these 15 essays unpack topics including complex friendship dynamics, the emotional impact of having a loved one go missing, and the mindsets of conspiracy theorists. In "The Now Memories," psychology professors Dawn Weatherford and William Erickson offer a nuanced analysis of the ways the show—set in the 1980s—trades on its younger audience's "rootless nostalgia" for a time before mass awareness of "existential threats" like climate change and terrorism. In the most eye-opening entry, "An '80s Dream or Comforting Nightmare?," clinical psychologist Vanessa Hintz analyzes the show's depiction of Black character Lucas Sinclair, which, she contends, ignores the racism Black residents of 1980s small-town Illinois would have encountered: the show "not only misses the mark" but may unintentionally "harm fans in the process." The entries mix genuine appreciation with measured critique, taking seriously the complex issues powering the show's plot,without undercutting its overall entertainment value. Fans looking to delve deeper into the show will devour this.
