Again, my apologies for choosing such a morbid piece. I selected this article from Vanity Fair because I think it provides an interesting perspective in profiling a particular place and people. Also, there are things about the writing style to both praise and critique. I think Alex Shoumatoff does a nice job of giving the reader a varied scope that narrowly focuses on the stories of individuals and more broadly addresses the issue of of suicide and young people. The author describes the physical place well- situating the reader in the environment where this epidemic is occurring. In a strategically placed order, the history and current state of this place--Bridgend county--is revealed as to provide context and circumstantial evidence for this tragedy. Shoumatoff gives us statistics and facts as well as his personal observations and sentiments, informing and engaging the reader. He makes connections and draws comparisons between each of the individuals and at the same time regards them as individuals with unique stories; to me, the balance between these two depictions is the aim of narrative journalism.
I think Shoumatoff does well to include the voices of those he interviews to provide the reader with the words in which the those most affected speak of these circumstances. Also, contextualizing this situation within the tradition of domestic and social institutions in Britain as a whole provides the reader a lens with which to view the scene.
While I think the piece is comprehensive, I wonder how structural adjustments could change the narration. If the author began with the story of one of the victims instead of his introduction to the geography of the place, would the reader feel more connected from the beginning or more detached? There is a point in the narration where Shoumatoff lists in rapid succession a number of the suicide victims. While this approach increases the sense the reader gets about how suddenly these events began and how frequently they continued, does it also desensitize and depersonalize?
I think, overall, Shoumatoff distances himself well enough to write objectively and yet, still is able to connect to these people and relate personal inflections that humanize the story.
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I'd never thought of an epidemic in this way, and I hadn't known about the high suicide rate in the UK... so this article was definitely intriguing. The idea that a town can have an "oppressive, impersonal sameness" powerful enough to drive so many people to suicide is really scary, of course.
ReplyDeleteThe attitudes of the youth in South Wales seem to foster and even empower the dismal atmosphere; maybe they are suffering from a permanent seasonal affective disorder. It would have been interesting to see Shoumatoff throw in a character that "just loves" the area--the type who would never move in a million years--to juxtapose all of the negativity.
I’ve tried to find more information about this subject. Apparently everyone, especially in the UK, is trying to find out what’s going on. For what I’ve read until now, not even scientists or sociologists have nailed it down as Alex Shoumatoff´s piece. Yes, it is quite long and absolutely morbid, but definitely engaging. As we´ve heard many times in class, a good narrative piece calls your attention on topics that otherwise you would probably dismiss.
ReplyDeleteIt´s clear that Shoumatoff did an exhaustive research on this beforehand and after visiting Wales. He presents as many possible explanations as he could find, which gives him great authority. The way he shows them is like dealing a deck of cards. The reader has so much information to digest in front of him that there is no other choice than to believe the author.
Finally, he follows a main structure throughout the piece which is the narration of his visit to the town (a linear structure), and introduces all the research, interviews and comments in between. I think that due to the amount of information related choosing a linear was a good choice.
This is a really intense piece, Austin. I'm glad you picked this one, because it deals with situations that has happened over the past three years. I agree with the fact that Soumatoff describes the Bridgend town and informs the readers of this town and its history, and then makes the readers question what is it about this place that increases the number of suicides.
ReplyDeleteSoumatoff seems very convincing, because he has all the correct sources to put this piece together and make his point across. All of these shocking news of teenagers committing suicide for nonlegitimate reasons, and having the townspeople have their say in it, really makes this piece strong.
It is a morbid piece but it is really interesting. Specifically, I liked the interviews with the kids who were friends with the people who had killed themselves and also the progression of time in the piece. If it had been as long without the progression of time, it would have been a bust. It made me want to know more, which is good for the author but I almost was frustrated at the end that I didn't get a better idea of the total social, political, and economic scene in that part of the world. Of course, he does do some of that, and he had to find a balance between the sensational details of the suicides, the interviews, and the whole picture in limited words. Overall, good piece and I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about the high suicide rates in the UK, and this piece is as interesting as it is morbid. I really like how Soumatoff began with describing the town. Also, the last line of the first paragraph really shocks you.
ReplyDelete"There’s nothing suicidal about this rolling, pastoral landscape, drenched with the sense of being inhabited for thousands of years, that I can detect. But a few years ago, a local 17-year-old boy left his car running and gassed himself here."
As I was being lulled into a sweet sense of the peace of the town, I was rocked by the last line, which really made me engaged in the piece.
Soumatoff has high authority in this piece because he has so many sourcesand appears to have done his research and critical thinking about the topic. As the reader, I had no qualms about believing what he was saying.
Its funny how many comments there are about this piece - I really agree that it is engaging, but, a week later, what I respect about the piece is that it appeals to human curiosity without seeming to exploit it. What makes it great, too, is that I noticed a lot of people went and did research on this phenomenon after reading the article. I'll admit, I did too...it really makes you ask questions...
ReplyDeleteJust looking for responses to week 5 readings!
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