The Portrayals of Grief and How it Affects Childhood Development on Netflix’s Haunting of Hill House

Authors

Gabriella DeMelfi, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

4-22-2021

Faculty Mentor

Louise Woodstock

Abstract

Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” depicts the journey of five main characters who experienced the loss of their mother and how that unresolved trauma and grief manifests itself into the grief they experience as adults. Through normalizing depictions of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms for grief, those who watch can learn through a social context how to deal with grief, validating the feelings of grief, and potentially recognize the signs of grief in others. In addition, this show, along with an increasing number of shows centered around grief, can help change societal and cultural views on discussions of death and view the feelings surrounding death and grief in a more positive and accepting light.

Comments

Presented as part of the Ursinus College Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA) held April 22, 2021.

The downloadable file is a poster presentation with audio commentary.

Recommended Citation

DeMelfi, Gabriella, "The Portrayals of Grief and How it Affects Childhood Development on Netflix’s Haunting of Hill House" (2021). Media and Communication Studies Presentations. 12.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/media_com_pres/12