Should tv shows, films and comics talk about politics and social issues?

[QuinnFillory]

The pop culture we consume should be able to sometimes reflect the times that we are in. Yet, there can be some, if not alot of, pushback. In recent years, for example, a lot of people have been complaining about how political Supergirl (the show) has gotten. Similar complaints have been made about shows like The Rookie and New Amsterdam. So, should television shows, as well as movies and comics, touch upon currents issues in society?

[worstblogever]

Everything is political, honestly, or could be made to be.

People will find a reason to complain, no matter what the writers try, and if they don't like it they can... stop me if this is complicated...

WATCH SOMETHING ELSE THAT DOESN'T CHALLENGE THEIR FRAGILE IDENTITY.

[Zelena]

I think it’s a matter of quality… If the only thing you acknowledge in a piece of the work is the intention, then the author has failed. Because you haven’t been moved by it.

I don’t have problem with pieces of work that are politically tainted as long as it is done… elegantly, cleverly.

[babyblob]

I dont care if there are politics in a comic or show if it is done well. But we dont really watch it for that unless it is a show like the West Wing or something.

We read comics so we can see crazy bad guys in a costume get slapped around by crazy good guys in a costume. If it is a political issue or some one finds some deeper meaning in it great. I dont look for that.

Like The Xmen representing minorities and gays. I never got into that message, Some people take that from it. As a Bi Man I could care less. I see a guy with magnetic powers try and take over the world and get stopped by people, with crazy powers.

Could Bruce Wayne do a better job at fighting crime and helping the poor of Gotham with his money other then High Tech toys, armored cars, and a Bat Suit? Hell yea he could I mean the Batmoblie has to cost at least a couple hundred Thousand. How many meals for the homeless would that buy, or how many homes could he buy for a single mother with 2 kids? But no one wants to read Social Reform Man giving a ten page speech about child poverty causing crime, or a splash panel of him cutting a check to keep an inner city school open. No we read to see him dressed as a bat kick the crap out of a crazy clown.

But the thing is comics have always been political. From Superman going after wife beaters, crooked business men, gambling Dens and even dangerous drivers in the Golden Age.

But even if there was no underlining message someone will find one and as WBE said someone will always find something to complain about. I mean Just Sam Wilson being Captain America had tons of people bitching or Superman Smashes the Klan. People get mad at USAgent being so right wing.

Always something.

[FFJamie94]

I actually like it when media deals with political issues, it helps make the story interesting. Even if I disagree with the politics (24 for example), i like how it incoperates it's politics to give the story weight.

There are instances where i feel like the discussion is messy And in fact it's why i try to keep out of those discussions as much as possible.
I've said this before And i'll say it again however, i wish comics like X-men would deal with social issues in their comics like Mutants being racist to other Mutants or homophobia. As much as X-men are my favorite team, i'd love to read an X-force arc where they have to deal with a Mutant white supremacy group

[ed2962]

Comics, TV, and Movies ( and literature and music ) as mediums have literally never not addressed social issues.

[babyblob]

I actually like it when media deals with political issues, it helps make the story interesting. Even if I disagree with the politics (24 for example), i like how it incoperates it's politics to give the story weight.

There are instances where i feel like the discussion is messy And in fact it's why i try to keep out of those discussions as much as possible.
I've said this before And i'll say it again however, i wish comics like X-men would deal with social issues in their comics like Mutants being racist to other Mutants or homophobia. As much as X-men are my favorite team, i'd love to read an X-force arc where they have to deal with a Mutant white supremacy group

This would be a good story Arc but I never see them doing that. Marvel has ridden high on the Mutants are a metaphor for whatever oppressed group/minority struggle is in the news that month.

If the Mutants were the racists, if the mutants the Homo/Transphopic bad guys the Marvel could not bring them out in the clumsy "Hey we are on your side we get your struggle." Story attepmts.

[Zelena]

I actually like it when media deals with political issues, it helps make the story interesting. Even if I disagree with the politics (24 for example), i like how it incoperates it's politics to give the story weight.

There are instances where i feel like the discussion is messy And in fact it's why i try to keep out of those discussions as much as possible.
I've said this before And i'll say it again however, i wish comics like X-men would deal with social issues in their comics like Mutants being racist to other Mutants or homophobia. As much as X-men are my favorite team, i'd love to read an X-force arc where they have to deal with a Mutant white supremacy group

Actually, Magneto, written by some authors, is very close to a mutant supremacist… There were times he wanted to rule the world, and there were times he wanted to get rid of these pesky humans that are so inferior to him.

Now, the X-men are all in a “apartheid is wonderful” mode. I don’t say that it isn’t the solution, the “mutant problem” being so peculiar… But what is the purpose to tackle political questions if it doesn’t trigger any controversies? The point of stories is that the protagonists discuss about difficult matters in a way that is subtle.

Anyway, the mutants isn’t a good metaphor for anything in our world: people aren’t both dangerous psychopaths and innocent victims, well, not at the same time…

[mortari]

Everything is political, honestly, or could be made to be.

People will find a reason to complain, no matter what the writers try, and if they don't like it they can... stop me if this is complicated...

WATCH SOMETHING ELSE THAT DOESN'T CHALLENGE THEIR FRAGILE IDENTITY.

I was going to reply to this thread but someone already posted the best response. Also there's no option on the poll for, it doesn't matter because it's always been there and it always will.

[Starter Set]

The pop culture we consume should be able to sometimes reflect the times that we are in. Yet, there can be some, if not alot of, pushback. In recent years, for example, a lot of people have been complaining about how political Supergirl (the show) has gotten. Similar complaints have been made about shows like The Rookie and New Amsterdam. So, should television shows, as well as movies and comics, touch upon currents issues in society?

Is that even a question? Of course it should.

Nothing better than to read or watch something who entertains you and challenge a bit your views. You may agree or disagree with what is presented but at least it has something to say.

Dumb, mindless entertainment is fun sometimes but when that's all there is, damn, that really says something sad about the state of culture and creation.

It's just like food, you need a bit of everything and don't be afraid to be exposed to opinions you disagree with.

[Stanlos]

I don't see how that is even a question. Comics are like any other art form and reflect the issues of the day. You can look back at say some of the Superdickery issues of Superman and learn quite a bit about some notions of the time. You can see the struggle accepting and adapting to progress and women's rights in a number of books. Why would that be any different today?

For example, what would a journalist like Lois or Clark think about the previous Administration 's outright attack on the Fourth Estate? How would either of them feel about the rampant misinformation being spread to prey upon people in pain and in mental or spiritual crisis? Superman has "the American Way" in his tagline. He should be a critical eye into the world. Perhaps not as much as WW for whom such critique and activism are in her conception but certainly organically given the trappings of the verse. Why would people have a problem with that?

[LoganAlpha30X33]

But also politics and the message can hijack a show or comic to where it's more about that message, whatever it is, than the characters contained within, one reason that all of these reboots of old shows and such keep failing, they try to change them to much to follow modern rules and such and they don't work...

[Mister Mets]

"No" is the obviously wrong answer here. There's been great work about politics and social issues in every medium. To deny that possibility in the future is absurd.

There is a time and place for it, though. Sesame Street would not be the right place to tackle the Texas abortion legislation.

One of the messy things in politics is that some people just can't accept that decent humans hold different views, and would take advantage of the writer's ability to put a foot on the scale, and make outcomes match their policy preferences in a way that doesn't match with real life. There is always a potential for backlash as the people who make art tend to have different views from the average voters, which has implications for arts funding and can provide an opportunity for populist demagogues to rally against popular culture. The space to tackle complicated questions is also quite finite, so that's definitely something people should keep in mind when tackling politics in a five minute song or a twenty page comic book.

This question gets into branding a bit. Some series develop followings, and it can be upsetting for viewers if a new voice differs from what they've seen before. It'd be weird if a standard cop drama were suddenly written by someone who believes ACAB and that police abolition is necessary. Likewise, it would be strange if Captain Planet were written by libertarians trying to show the tradeoffs to environmental legislation. Meanwhile, more experimental work can encourage activism and be much more radical.

The important thing would be that the writers and artists play fair, although that is very much in the eye of the beholder.

[FFJamie94]

"No" is the obviously wrong answer here. There's been great work about politics and social issues in every medium. To deny that possibility in the future is absurd.

There is a time and place for it, though. Sesame Street would not be the right place to tackle the Texas abortion legislation.

One of the messy things in politics is that some people just can't accept that decent humans hold different views, and would take advantage of the writer's ability to put a foot on the scale, and make outcomes match their policy preferences in a way that doesn't match with real life. There is always a potential for backlash as the people who make art tend to have different views from the average voters, which has implications for arts funding and can provide an opportunity for populist demagogues to rally against popular culture. The space to tackle complicated questions is also quite finite, so that's definitely something people should keep in mind when tackling politics in a five minute song or a twenty page comic book.

This question gets into branding a bit. Some series develop followings, and it can be upsetting for viewers if a new voice differs from what they've seen before. It'd be weird if a standard cop drama were suddenly written by someone who believes ACAB and that police abolition is necessary. Likewise, it would be strange if Captain Planet were written by libertarians trying to show the tradeoffs to environmental legislation. Meanwhile, more experimental work can encourage activism and be much more radical.

The important thing would be that the writers and artists play fair, although that is very much in the eye of the beholder.

Experimental pieces of work can almost make a work entirely political without making it political. Season 3 of Twin Peaks is pretty much mostly Frost in that regard, as even if you didn't think it, that Season is probably Lynch's most political work yet.

I'm also reminded of The Holy Mountain (My favourite movie of all time just to let you folks know), which is pretty much a two hour message. It's very political and I saw a lot that is still relevant today. Then again, it does tell you that you've wasted your time watching it as me now typing here that it's a two hour message defeats the message of the movie.

[Xheight]

"No" is the obviously wrong answer here. There's been great work about politics and social issues in every medium. To deny that possibility in the future is absurd.

There is a time and place for it, though. Sesame Street would not be the right place to tackle the Texas abortion legislation.

One of the messy things in politics is that some people just can't accept that decent humans hold different views, and would take advantage of the writer's ability to put a foot on the scale, and make outcomes match their policy preferences in a way that doesn't match with real life. There is always a potential for backlash as the people who make art tend to have different views from the average voters, which has implications for arts funding and can provide an opportunity for populist demagogues to rally against popular culture. The space to tackle complicated questions is also quite finite, so that's definitely something people should keep in mind when tackling politics in a five minute song or a twenty page comic book.

This question gets into branding a bit. Some series develop followings, and it can be upsetting for viewers if a new voice differs from what they've seen before. It'd be weird if a standard cop drama were suddenly written by someone who believes ACAB and that police abolition is necessary. Likewise, it would be strange if Captain Planet were written by libertarians trying to show the tradeoffs to environmental legislation. Meanwhile, more experimental work can encourage activism and be much more radical.

The important thing would be that the writers and artists play fair, although that is very much in the eye of the beholder.

What you call branding is just short of market and product calculation which is a far cry from literary or moral concerns for inclusion and the issues of politics. A good many who cry foul on such branding choices however get labeled as reactionary or worse all the while serving just what market? I think in the case of comics and comics fans feeling like they are a loyal/captive audience such changes are particularly anti-democratic in what they ask of the audience. Meaning it is awful that people who are the majority of the audience that made something successful are being asking to either lump it or go away with the main bet being that they won't really go away.

As C_Miller notes action and spectacle go a long way to engage but also to hold grudging audiences no matter how much they are being played. The current Trek though has asked its fandom what is the central concept of of the show is through the story as much as through the casting and in that regard asks them for their go ahead when other shows or movies have not.