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Under the Influence: Teens and Screens Summer Scholars Session I

In a world saturated with visual storytelling, from YouTube to Netflix to TikTok, what is the impact of the stories we consume every day on our own behavior and sense of self? Using the case study of alcohol, as it's represented in advertising, social media, feature films, and television, we'll examine the persuasive power of visual storytelling in shaping our beliefs and altering our actions.
 
This course is based on one of Notre Dame's most popular undergraduate courses that examines the power and persuasiveness of storytelling in popular culture.
 
Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic relapsing brain disease. But when presented on screen, it’s entertainment. Why do we laugh, why do we cry, why do we emulate fictional characters whose on-camera drinking habits would lead to debilitating addiction in real life? From Joey King to Jonah Hill, we'll use the narrative of alcohol as presented in media, as an example of how fictional storytelling affects human behavior.

Academic Directors

Ted Mandell

Ted Mandell

Ted Mandell (M.A. University of Iowa, B.A. University of Notre Dame) has taught film and video production at Notre Dame for the past 34 years. He specializes in documentary production. Past Producer of numerous features on Notre Dame Athletics for WatchND.tv, Ted is co-director of the documentary 88 and 1 (ESPN2), the award winning documentary Okuyamba, and producer of the Fighting Irish Media documentary series First Time Fans. Ted is also in charge of the annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival, has penned numerous national op-ed columns on media and popular culture, and is the author of the multimedia book Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: The Greatest College Football Finishes (since 1970).

Twitter: @TedMandell

nd.edu/~tmandell

und.com/FirstTimeFans

Anre Venter

Anre Venter

Dr. Anré Venter received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Notre Dame and is currently the director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at Notre Dame. He teaches the introductory psychology course for first year students, statistics, a mid-level Social Psychology course and upper-level seminars focusing on the Philosophy of the Self. His primary research interest examines issues of self ranging from the effects of self-complexity as a buffer against stress as well as the relationship between culture and self.
Prior to entering Notre Dame, Dr. Venter received an M.A. in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and a B.A. in psychology and social anthropology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.