This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
The New Pop Culture Optimism ¶
Published on December 18, 2019, a growing trend in popular culture is the depiction of a more optimistic and inclusive world, where characters are free to be themselves without fear of prejudice or judgment.
TV shows like 'Mrs. Fletcher' and 'Schitt's Creek' are leading the way in this shift, showcasing characters who are unapologetically themselves and living their lives without fear of persecution. In 'Mrs. Fletcher', the character of Brendan navigates a college campus where inclusivity is the norm, while in 'Schitt's Creek', the character of David Rose is a pansexual man who is unapologetically himself.
According to Dan Levy, co-creator of 'Schitt's Creek', this shift in popular culture is a deliberate decision to show a projection of our own world that is kinder. 'I wanted to show a projection of our own world that was kinder,' Levy said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. 'Show how much people can grow and the capacity with which people can love when they are not fearing for their lives.'
However, not all creators are embracing this trend. As Alison Wilmore wrote in Buzzfeed, the premise of 'Booksmart' ignores the role class plays in the life of high schoolers. If Molly and Amy's peers still managed to get into schools like Stanford while being hard partyers and underachievers, it seems likely the reason stems from nepotism, wealth or even, perhaps, bribery.
Despite this, the trend of depicting a more optimistic and inclusive world is a welcome one. As Shonda Rhimes explained in an episode of 'Master Class', the optimism at the heart of 'The West Wing' flourished during an era when the atmosphere was much darker and pessimistic. 'In any given political moment, viewers will turn to Hollywood for an escape, and right now, it seems, is when many of us want that diversion to err on the side of hopefulness,' Rhimes said.
