I thought that Dr. Bezio’s point that people are more likely to be changed by entertainment than hard facts was incredibly interesting, especially with the amount of social unrest and change that we have seen over the past year. Personally, I know that when I am presented with a fact that supports the opposite viewpoint to mine, I immediately try to discredit it. I search for fallacies in its wording, unreliable sources, or anything else to prove that my belief is correct and the other is wrong. I believe that this is human nature, we want to support our in-groups and teardown our out-groups when we recognize them. There is something in a story (whether that be a movie, book, or music video) that is harder to argue with, forcing us to turn off our automatic discretion and allowing us to see the world from another point of view. Using sympathy and narrative tools, directors help to build the more personal aspects of a movement for change. Humans are built around individual and societal connections, and I think that entertainment fosters these connections because it makes us feel like we know the characters personally.

This is why diversity and inclusion in the media are so important, by showing different types of people in a positive light you can lessen the divide between races and other divisive characteristics. I often hear people talking about representation for people within their own race, such as a little black girl getting to see some of herself in the black Disney Princess Tiana, but an equally important fact is that increasing representation can lessen racism simply through exposure. Although someone in rural Maine might not know a black person in real life, they could watch Black Panther or Hidden Figures and form positive associations with the black characters that translate to a less racist view overall. I believe that most racism and hate are derived from fear of the unknown and negative depictions of others, so consistent exposure should (hopefully) help to minimize racism over time.