December 5, 2022
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.