Recently there was a challenge on youtube for graphics artists to create computer graphic renders using a common prompt.
This is a good example of the idea of representing a common idea in different ways. Though the visual aesthetics can be extremely different, the essential premise of the visual medium is the same. We can call this a multi-representation of a single idea.
There’s an interesting question to ask here: why do we consider these the ‘same’ when the visualization is different? Moreover, can we apply this to more kinds of media?
Have you ever made fun of the idea of analysis of classical literature? And how often it seems ridiculous that details we intuitively give no importance to are often very implicit elements to the message a writer is trying to convey.
This exists in various forms of media, from poetry to modern art with writers attempting to convey different kinds of emotions and appeal. The purpose of doing this is often to the discretion of the writer but overall exists to communicate a message albeit indirectly.
Combining these two ideas, notice how expressing a message can come out in lots of different ways?
This can also apply to social messages.
Sometimes these messages are incredibly discrete. In some cases, this is done to make it easier for certain kinds of consumers to understand a message and the essential idea that comes with it. Kids’ TV shows do this often with various themes. Sometimes this is done because it’s hard to be obvious about a social message without fervent opposition. This is in the case of LGBT media which queer code characters. An example of both these things is Adventure Time- having a queer lesbian couple was heavily implied throughout the show. This taught kids that LGBT+ couples are normal while also staying under the radar for years to broadcast in areas that outlawed being LGBT+.
When we look back at the multi-representation idea, we can use it now to recognize how social messages have the ability to be represented in multiple ways. And that’s what allows for the absolute abuse of the concept of social messages in media without necessarily putting any effort in doing so in the name of having one’s own subjective or variant view of representing an issue or concept.
An example of this is the film Sketch.
The entire film revolves around goon rivalries and heists, only to end with a plot twist related to child gangsters and vaguely mentions that child labor is a problem. Nowhere else, apart from the ending, does the film do anything to take action and explore this idea. It was used simply because it was an interesting ‘twist’ and could be used as a crutch for an attempt at social commentary. This surface-level analysis and awareness bringing is quite obviously in vain and does little to actually bring any sort of care or path for change, but moreover is justified using the idea of multiple representations. This prevents any sort of backlash or negative address since it can be argued that it is only the writer’s specific representation on the matter.
This can also be brought out in tokenism where specific minorities are cast in the name of representation. Often doing the bare minimum to represent them and simply doing it in the name of social inclusion.
This can lead to even more dire consequences. While the former issue only allowed writers to vaguely introduce social issues, tokenism can even hurt social movements. Movements today targeted against minorities often talk about the ‘kidnapping’ of media and TV by ‘the left’ due to overt tokenism and diversity castings. Often the little work done to represent minorities and do justice to representation and promote social discourse is salvaged as more fuel to promote hate against these issues in the first place, allowing for easier radicalization for insecure individuals.
This doesn’t necessarily mean a social message needs to be directly recognizable in a piece of media for it to have some sort of messaging.
Take the CG anime Beastars
The show is set in a world where characters are anthropomorphic animals who are divided based on being predator or prey. Despite being a society where murder is outlawed and alternative forms of sustenance are given to predators for both factions to coexist, there still exists large social divides, ostracism, stereotyping, and discrimination between both parties. It doesn't directly correlate to any sort of divide we have in reality but rather shows us similar ideas and themes that can fuel such socially oppressive circumstances while explaining how smaller issues in society rise due to these circumstances.
Beastars is only one example. Across mediums, we can find plenty of abstract representations and, more importantly, interpretations of themes. Something important to note here is that some interpreted messages usually aren’t intended by the creator, but end up being used anyway.
A very common one is the ideology of the red pill, whose origin comes from the movie, The Matrix. There are multiple interpretations of the ideology, but can be a well-established phrase in the context of conspiracy theorists, misogynists, and large internet forums who complain that ‘white men are under attack.' The idea behind the red pill in the film is that it lets you see the truth- and those that interpreted the movie’s message took it to push their own agenda of truth. This is one of the many ways a piece of media’s messaging can be used as an interpretation for greater social agendas.
The three-finger salute is another example, deriving from the Hunger Games, and is supposed to mean “a gesture of admiration, gratitude and saying goodbye to someone you love,” according to the Hunger Games wiki but has inspired to be used as a symbol of rebellion and pro-democracy by protests in Myanmar and Thailand given the themes of capitalistic greed and unfair oppression in the story.
After all of these examples, it’s important to realize just how powerful our media can be and how messaging and themes can often be used to push large social change and movements. Sometimes lazy writing can instead hurt a movement while some are misused to spark agendas that promote conspiracy and violence.
It’s time to recognize that the idea of something being ‘just a movie’ should arguably no longer be a norm. There are plenty of unintended consequences we can see today that stem from different layers of storytelling. We should strive towards creators of multimedia to keep in mind the greater lessons and consequences that could come about from their design and storytelling choices.
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