We often watch television to escape an increasingly painful world, but some shows do just the opposite.
Television programs can spark real-world change by raising awareness of issues, and some go even further by encouraging viewers to take action for social change.
Television is an incredibly powerful but underrated tool for activism. Books and shows are banned under dictatorships for a reason, and we need to fight hard to keep them from getting banned.
Science fiction plays a huge role in real-world change
I’ve always admired Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone because Serling so cleverly hid social activism within a science fiction story.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, there were things he couldn’t say outright.
He was a vocal advocate for racial and gender equality at a time when these ideas were considered taboo to talk about on television.
I love how he cleverly hid his message within the sci-fi story. They’re not subtle, but they transcend the reach of online censors.
Climate change, anti-racism and avoiding scapegoating are all topics close to his heart, to name a few.
Science fiction in general can help change minds and hearts.
Serling was particularly successful because he used the anthology format, but most science fiction novels offer commentary on current events and provoke real-world changes.
Some people are quick to call shows like Doctor Who “woke” these days, but they’re just doing what all science fiction does: putting real-life problems into a fictional context so that people Understand the problem and be motivated to take action.
Doctor Who has been doing this for over 60 years.
I still remember the scene in Genesis of the Daleks where Tom Baker’s Doctor agonizes over whether he should eliminate the Daleks before they overwhelm the universe, I first saw it when I was five!
Sometimes it’s hard to quantify how much real-world change you get from a show like this.
People love them but are also upset by some of the things that happen in them, but if it doesn’t go further, has it done its job?
Awareness is an important first step
Clearly, awareness is an important aspect of bringing about change in the real world. You can’t solve a problem you don’t know exists.
The shows that spark real-world change are the ones that are impressively written, whether they’re sci-fi, mystery, family drama, or another genre.
When a show presents a character with a serious conflict and a less-than-ideal resolution, it’s a powerful motivator for real-world change—as long as it’s a real character.
As the credits roll, it leaves the audience thinking about the question and deciding what they think, and sometimes that sparks something.
“Some shows, if they’re dealing with mental health issues like suicide or domestic violence, may also follow up with a hotline or statistics about the issues being discussed.
If people are troubled by a problem, they can take immediate action. It also gives commenters like me something to talk about to help other viewers understand the issue.
Diverse representation is important to spark real-world change
Diverse representation is one of those things that is difficult to do well, but it can have a huge impact.
When we see people like us, especially when we belong to marginalized groups, we are inspired to create real-world change.
There is something to be said for not feeling alone in the world.
That’s the thing about television that most inspires real-world change.
When it gives us characters similar to our own and makes us feel understood and supported, it encourages us to go out into the world and make a difference.
Diverse representation is part of that. As a trans kid, I didn’t even know there was a word to describe what I was, so I didn’t understand who I was.
Putting trans kids on TV can help solve this problem and is just one example of how television can inspire real-world change. Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in LGBTQ+ representation and this needs to change quickly.
Just as important, having a diverse cast of characters who deal with the same issues or share the same identity helps prevent stereotypes.
This is especially important with complex issues like trauma, which manifest differently in different people.
Showing the multiple facets of these problems is critical to real-world change because without understanding the entire problem, people cannot take action to change it.
TV can inspire real-world change through compelling characters
The most powerful thing television can do is give us characters who inspire us.
Sometimes change starts with us, and the things our favorite characters say and do can help us change our own lives.
Our favorite TV characters can inspire us to be bolder in our lives, stand up for what we believe in, and fight for what we believe is right.
It also gives us courage when we see them stand up to powerful people and admire their fighting spirit.
They can also impart wisdom that helps us keep moving forward during difficult times.
Over to you, TV fanatics. How does television inspire you to make real-world changes for yourself or others?
Hit the comments with your thoughts.
