A Few Thoughts on the Portrayal of Trauma in Popular Media

Written by Shae Rufe 

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

​Let’s talk about trauma and how it’s handled in media! Why? Because we need to. It’s very important that media show cases traumas and how they’re handled so that we all realize it’s something people go through. And for those who’ve been through any trauma to know they’re not alone. Please note some of these topics can be triggering for some and also slightly spoiler-y for shows and/or movies and what not.

When it comes to portraying trauma through any media form, it can be quite difficult for the both the creator and the audience. A large number of things can easily go wrong on both ends, so it’s a tricky situation to have things play out just right. If you’ve been here for a while then you’ve definitely seen many an article of mine proclaiming my love of Steven Universe, and the shows delicate way of sneaking things in. One major theme through the show is how it brings to light many different types of trauma and difficult topics with a positive look. The subjects that are showcased within this cartoon are utterly deep and resounding for such a “lighthearted kids show.” They tackle everything from loss to abusive relationships and even some PTSD. Recently The Steven Universe Movie aired and it brought a whole slew of other messages with it. The show has a bright shine on mental health and has interconnected characters and relationships with their own varying connections to really bring home that being not okay all the time is okay, and that leaning on others for help is also okay. Steven is able to deal with a lot of different traumas himself and always finds a way to connect with someone else and make them feel better by relating and understanding. However, while he doesn’t always have the same feelings and experiences as whoever is going through something, he does have a wealth of empathy and understanding. It’s a wonderful message to really show people. We may not always get what someone is going through, but we can be kind and listen. With this amazing trait, Steven is able to turn the most vicious enemy into a friend.

Not all shows are as fluffy and loving, however. In the Amazon series, The Boys, which is an adaptation of the comic, we see a different take on trauma. When Hughie’s girlfriend is killed by a superhero he snaps. This show doesn’t really sugarcoat anything, including violence. Driven by loss, rage and a bad influence, Hughie goes to some pretty extreme lengths for what he thinks is revenge. Hughie experiences his own PTSD which isn’t helped when he meets Billy. In fact, Billy pushes him after some reluctance and then completely projects his own issues onto Hughie. Truthfully, Billy seems to be pulling everyone down with his trauma by feeding on everyone else’s and manipulating them into working with him. Oddly, it’s Homelander, the hero of all hero’s, that is the most traumatized. Homelander is a sociopath with a number of issues, all of which were brought on by the people who raised him. It’s a really good look at what happens when people are treated like objects and nothing more. Homelander lacks empathy and is a narcissist, for sure, but he also has emotional problems.

Speaking of emotional problems, Batman and the entire Bat Family have those and then some. Granted, seeing your parents murdered is never fun and has some long-lasting effects. Both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson had the same experience with that type of trauma and yet they turned out different. While they both seek vengeance, Grayson is far more chill about certain aspects of it while Wayne is cold and detached. Batman is quite an interesting one considering he dresses like the very thing that terrifies him. Which is pretty hardcore because I absolutely could not dress as my phobia, ironically clowns. Then you have Harley who is manipulated into being dependent on the Joker, which later she finally breaks off. The abuse she suffers at being the Joker’s girlfriend deserves its own lengthily blog to be honest. Harley has thankfully evolved with the times and pulled herself free, but that doesn’t mean those traumas have vanished.

Creatively, many writers have managed to showcase different types of traumas in their allotted story arc’s without making them seem like flaws. I think, for me, that’s the most important life lesson. These traumas aren’t used to define a character, but rather show how a character deals with them and grows with them. While a trauma can lead to mental changes, it never is a defining characteristic, and nor should it be. Still, these things can often be hard to see or triggering for those who’ve been through specific or similar traumas. I’ve mentioned this in another blog, DoesTheDogDie.com is a wonderful site that offers warnings for various possible triggers and traumas in many media forms. It’s a wonderful resource and I highly recommend it for literally anyone. The site is thorough and even includes warnings for phobias, like spiders and clowns! Not to mention, it does let you know if a dog dies in a movie, which is pretty helpful.

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