TV Show Analyses
Are TV Depictions of Drug Use Appropriate? "Euphoria" vs "Feel Good"
This article will look at Euphoria (season 1) and Feel Good, two TV series based on drug portrayals, a concept that has become more popular in recent years as the media has started to portray life in a more realistic way and people like it.
Euphoria has been very popular with young people since its release, both for the way the characters dress and their personalities, and for the aesthetics of the show as a whole. Feel Good, on the other hand, does not have a large fan base.
In common, the main characters of both shows are drug addicts, Mae in Feel Good is an adult comedian, while Rue in Euphoria is a high school student. although their characters are different, they are similar in that drug use is normalized in their environment and both have addictions to the point of requiring help.
However, both of these shows have chosen to show their characters' situations and the decisions they make in different ways. To me, these choices also show the line between what makes media portrayals of drugs deterring or romanticizing. What is shown in Euphoria is more romanticized than the scenes in Feel Good and therefore has a more negative impact on the audience.
Euphoria has been very popular with young people since its release, both for the way the characters dress and their personalities, and for the aesthetics of the show as a whole. Feel Good, on the other hand, does not have a large fan base.
In common, the main characters of both shows are drug addicts, Mae in Feel Good is an adult comedian, while Rue in Euphoria is a high school student. although their characters are different, they are similar in that drug use is normalized in their environment and both have addictions to the point of requiring help.
However, both of these shows have chosen to show their characters' situations and the decisions they make in different ways. To me, these choices also show the line between what makes media portrayals of drugs deterring or romanticizing. What is shown in Euphoria is more romanticized than the scenes in Feel Good and therefore has a more negative impact on the audience.
Lighting, Angles and Music
Both series chose to reflect drug use to the viewers through different lighting and music choices. This section of the article will compare the lighting, shots and music, especially in the scenes of drug use.
In Euphoria, the use of purple light and the actions of the characters in the series are associated with an aesthetic. For example, in the first episode, in the scene where Jules and Jules use drugs together, the purple light, which has become iconic with Euphoria, creates a romantic and aesthetic atmosphere as they both look at each other with their faces covered in glitter. The artistic quality of the shots helps the series to move forward while at the same time revealing its iconicity, but for the same reason it also leads to the romanticization of the concepts in the series. The fact that this series, which deals with sex work, sexual abuse and drug use, tries to look aesthetically pleasing also plays a role in its encouragement. In Feel Good, in contrast, the lighting is done without any aesthetic purpose, in most of the scenes (especially the ones where serious problems are mentioned) the lighting is so bright that it resembles a hospital room. By using such flat and realistic lighting, a more serious atmosphere could be created. For example, in episode 6 of Feel Good, the scene where Mae takes drugs makes the audience hold their breath. The shooting techniques, lighting and music combine to create a very realistic and tragic scene. The bright lighting creates an uncomfortable and quiet scene, while the angle of the shot shows Mae up close, putting the audience in the character's shoes.
Similarly, in both shows, the desire to use drugs is shown through the choice of music, in Euphoria it is shown through the song "Formula", while in Feel Good a high-pitched and disturbing voice is used for the same purpose.
In Euphoria, the use of purple light and the actions of the characters in the series are associated with an aesthetic. For example, in the first episode, in the scene where Jules and Jules use drugs together, the purple light, which has become iconic with Euphoria, creates a romantic and aesthetic atmosphere as they both look at each other with their faces covered in glitter. The artistic quality of the shots helps the series to move forward while at the same time revealing its iconicity, but for the same reason it also leads to the romanticization of the concepts in the series. The fact that this series, which deals with sex work, sexual abuse and drug use, tries to look aesthetically pleasing also plays a role in its encouragement. In Feel Good, in contrast, the lighting is done without any aesthetic purpose, in most of the scenes (especially the ones where serious problems are mentioned) the lighting is so bright that it resembles a hospital room. By using such flat and realistic lighting, a more serious atmosphere could be created. For example, in episode 6 of Feel Good, the scene where Mae takes drugs makes the audience hold their breath. The shooting techniques, lighting and music combine to create a very realistic and tragic scene. The bright lighting creates an uncomfortable and quiet scene, while the angle of the shot shows Mae up close, putting the audience in the character's shoes.
Similarly, in both shows, the desire to use drugs is shown through the choice of music, in Euphoria it is shown through the song "Formula", while in Feel Good a high-pitched and disturbing voice is used for the same purpose.
Overall Atmosphere and Characters
The elements mentioned in the previous section combine to create the general atmosphere of the series. Euphoria is characterized by the make-up styles and clothes worn by the characters, which have been trending since the series began. It normalizes the events of the series and the use of drugs, but romanticizes them through lighting and music choices. Feel Good, on the contrary, has a more realistic atmosphere, with the aforementioned luminous lighting, showing everything in the nude. Because of these aspects, Feel Good has more of a real-life feel to it, whereas Euphoria is conveyed to the audience as a fantasy.
Rue vs Mae
By looking a little deeper into the characters, we can see what they have in common and how these commonalities are represented differently by the two series. Both are addicts, both have been to rehab many times, and even both are characters who do not take their post-rehab group therapies seriously, who make many mistakes and have toxic relationships with those around them because of their addiction. They have both transferred their addiction to drugs to a romantic partner in their lives, but this toxicity is shown in completely different ways in the two shows. In Feel Good, when Mae disturbs her lover by calling him at all hours of the day and trying to come to him even when he is at work, a sense of discomfort is evoked in the audience, whereas in Euphoria, Rue and Jules' relationship is shown as if Rue is not to blame, with Jules only conveying to the audience that he is overwhelmed by their relationship.
Rue vs Mae
By looking a little deeper into the characters, we can see what they have in common and how these commonalities are represented differently by the two series. Both are addicts, both have been to rehab many times, and even both are characters who do not take their post-rehab group therapies seriously, who make many mistakes and have toxic relationships with those around them because of their addiction. They have both transferred their addiction to drugs to a romantic partner in their lives, but this toxicity is shown in completely different ways in the two shows. In Feel Good, when Mae disturbs her lover by calling him at all hours of the day and trying to come to him even when he is at work, a sense of discomfort is evoked in the audience, whereas in Euphoria, Rue and Jules' relationship is shown as if Rue is not to blame, with Jules only conveying to the audience that he is overwhelmed by their relationship.
In conclusion, when it comes to serious issues in the media, there can be both good and bad portrayals and they can have a different effect on everyone, so it is impossible to decide exactly what is bad and what is good. I just chose to compare two different shows that I like with similar themes and focus on the different portrayals. In the case of Euphoria, I don't really have a problem with the way it portrays its relationship with drugs, but there are definitely places where the show romanticizes drug use for the viewers. Especially lines like "drugs are kinda cool", cool shooting styles and an aesthetic shown with purple romantic lighting make the characters' situation appealing to people.
That's why I've chosen to contrast it with feel good, which I think is a better and more realistic representation. Even though the themes are similar, the two shows have taken them in different ways and come up with completely different concepts. Euphoria, in my opinion, skips over some of the concepts that need to be considered when dealing with serious issues and especially when being shared with a younger audience, and that is why it poses a problem. Feel Good, on the other hand, gave the audience concepts that Euphoria could not fully portray in a reality-bound way, so it can be considered a good portrayal.
That's why I've chosen to contrast it with feel good, which I think is a better and more realistic representation. Even though the themes are similar, the two shows have taken them in different ways and come up with completely different concepts. Euphoria, in my opinion, skips over some of the concepts that need to be considered when dealing with serious issues and especially when being shared with a younger audience, and that is why it poses a problem. Feel Good, on the other hand, gave the audience concepts that Euphoria could not fully portray in a reality-bound way, so it can be considered a good portrayal.
Deniz Koçak
