MuchMusic | Media Education | BookTelevision

By Their Own Hand

Program Length: 1/2 hour
Produced: 2001

Introduction

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem." Bill Ward, Black Sabbath

"By Their Own Hand" examines the interrelation of creativity, depression and suicide. The program looks at a variety of music videos that address the subject of suicide, and interviews therapists, artists and critics to understand the connection between music, art, mood disorders and suicide.

The following discussion activities appear chronologically as they occur in the video. Discussion leaders may use them all, or select those that best suit the group and the time frame.

1. Throughout the show, we see clips of music videos that deal with issues of suicide and/or depression. What genres of music are represented by these videos? Which genres are NOT represented? What inferences could be drawn from omitting certain genres?

2. Following is the list of music videos that are excerpted. Find several video clips in the program, and, if possible, listen to the whole song separately with lyrics (a good site for locating lyrics is www.lyrics.com). Describe how the videos and songs are similar and how they are different in their statements about suicide and depression. Are they all advocating or approving of suicide, or are some of them commenting on the tragedy of suicide? Are some of them talking about suicide in a metaphorical or allegorical way, but not in a literal way? i.e. are they using the words to suggest they REALLY feel suicidal or just feel terrible?

Adam's Song - Blink 182
Best Way To Die - Jet Set Satellite
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Suicide - Bobby Gaynor
Falling Away from Me - korn
Home - Staind
Jeremy - Pearl Jam
Pure Morning - Placebo
Underwater - Beth Hart
Hey Hey My My - Neil Young
Just Go - Staind

3. A National Centre for Health Statistics chart is shown that describes the Suicide Rate per 10000 population, ages 15 to 24 years, from 1900 to 1990. Research the political, social and economic climates during the Twentieth Century and answer the following questions:

Has suicide among youth increased significantly in the last part of the Twentieth Century? Why might this be?

What factors might have caused youth suicide to increase from 5000 - 12000 incidents between 1900 and 1910?

What factors might have caused youth suicide to increase from 6000 - 8000 incidents from 1925 - 1930?

What factors might have caused youth suicide to decline during both WW1 and WW2?

What factors might have caused youth suicide to grow from 6000 - 13000 incidents in the early 60s?

What factors might have caused youth suicide to plateau through the '70s and '80s?

How likely were the suicide rates for ALL persons to be similar to the rises and declines of youth suicide?

Find the suicide rate for Canadian youth from 1990 - 2000.

Based on your findings, predict whether the rate of youth suicide will rise, fall or remain the same in the next 10 years.

4. In the video of Just Go, by Staind, a woman jumps into a swimming pool and appears to drown. The next shot is of the video crew applauding her stunt jump. What is the effect of seeing the crew applauding after seeing the suicide? Is it important to see this suicide as an 'act' rather than real? Why?

5. "All of us have our gifts and we also have our weaknesses. If we only focus on our gifts, eventually our weaknesses will bring those gifts down. We also have to focus on the weakness and recognize and respect it and accept it. Don't think you're horrible because you have it. Try to work with it and maybe focus that energy into a positive direction." Beth Hart

Is this good advice for people who might feel suicidal? Why? What is the effect of hearing this advice from Beth Hart, who admits to having attempted suicide?

A great deal of additional information can be found on the Suicide Information and Education Centre's (SIEC) website: www.siec.ca. This organization has information packages and pamphlets available for teachers and other community leaders wishing to learn more about how to address and prevent suicide in their community, and the information is divided according to various subjects such as youth suicide, aboriginal suicide, gay youth and suicide, etc.

Written by: Neil Andersen

Neil Andersen is a Curriculum Consultant with the Toronto District School Board. He is also a speaker and consultant in media and communications technology. His most recent work includes the Media Launchpad website, the teachers' study guide for the award-winning Scanning Television, and study guides for Space, Bravo! and MuchMusic's Cable in the Classroom broadcasts of original media literacy programming.

For more information about MuchMusic's educational programming -- or to give us your feedback -- please contact:

Kim Rapagna
Manager, Public Affairs
CTVglobemedia
Krapagna@ctvglobemedia.com

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