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this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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chapotraphouse
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I’d add that widespread media tends to be written by very privileged people, which magnifies this effect. This goes doubly for The Simpson’s, which is written largely by people with PhD’s in math and engineering, many of them Ivy League. There’s something about embracing privilege which involves denying one’s true self, which just isn’t good for you. I think it’s deeply tied to why no ruling class has ever willingly and peacefully surrendered their power. On a systemic level, class interest manifests as state apparatus. On an individual level, class interests manifest as denial of self.
I think one major societal issue we have that is an impediment to building socialism is that fact that media is created by and about privileged people. Think about how many shows are about doctors, lawyers, detectives, successful entrepreneurs, etc. Or shows about writers or teachers where they don’t actually experience financial hardship. Compare that with how often you see a show like Maid or Roseanne. The majority of Americans barely get by financially (at best) but the dramatic over-emphasis in media on highly compensated professionals or people who have plenty of money creates this illusion that financial precarity is the abberation in American life and not the norm.
Even if the character(s) have "humble" origins, often the main thrust of the plot is that they are actually born special and are now exempt from all the burdens of humility and must take on the responsibility of being magic cops in service of the status quo.