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Whydunit? Narrative perspective in adolescence

2025/11/01 by Brütsch, Matthias
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #700 Arts #900 History #Gender, Feminism, and Media #Media Influence and Health #Radio, Podcasts, and Digital Media

paper · doi:10.5167/uzh-281014

openalex publication_date 2025/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/12/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

‘Whydunit? Narrative Perspective in Adolescence’ explores how the Netflix miniseries uses narrative perspective to shape viewers’ understanding and emotional engagement. Departing from the traditional ‘whodunit’ format, the series centres not on uncovering the perpetrator of a murder – revealed early on as thirteen-year-old Jamie – but on exploring his motivation, revealing a deep generational divide in interpreting teenage behaviour and digital communication. The article analyses how shifting narrative alignments with key characters – Jamie’s father, the lead investigator and a psychologist – gradually guide the audience from empathy to confrontation with uncomfortable truths.

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