The political environment has always been a divisive territory of conversation for decades and it is easy to see why. Opinions on certain issues and policies vary greatly, with people having their thoughts tailored to their background, demographics, geography, and other relevant influences. These tough topics are now becoming more prominent in our entertainment as well. The opinions of artists are beginning to bleed into their works, like video games, movies, TV shows, books, and more.
That is not necessarily a bad thing. Creators shouldn’t be afraid to inject their thoughts and feelings into their work, especially if they believe their insight is beneficial to whatever craft they have made. The problem is that many artists fall into the trap of following their viewpoints too closely and end up portraying the opposition poorly in their work, which leads to more strife between both sides of an issue.
There are many ways to handle controversial topics with tact. One such way is to take both sides into consideration. Some topics are universally black and white, but divisive ones are controversial for a reason. Discussing things with someone who disagrees with you will only be beneficial, as it can challenge your position and make you think more about a subject. Another way is to make sure the message fits into the media. When a film is about magic or has a creative twist, it doesn’t always make sense to inject modern social issues into it. Instead, try to incorporate an issue or conflict that is unique to the work that may subtly hint towards an issue that could be found in the real world.
Although there are differences between people, there are also many commonalities. We should be true in what we believe but also have an open mind to understand each other. Everyone enjoys entertainment, so we should be making it engaging for everyone.
