How I engage with problematic media in a thoughtful way
My wish is for everyone, me included, to be aware of the potential issues with the media that we consume and not allow the problematic aspects of that media to propagate into real life. And while it’s unlikely that your average reader is going to read a book like Mein Kampf and start plotting world domination, the biases and stereotypes that are present in books shape our ideas about what’s acceptable. That’s not to say that one person can’t create a great impact. High-profile leaders are typically narcissistic and narcissists are nothing if not charming (I know, I grew up with one), and are very skilled at shaping the very fabric of the world around them to suit their needs.I’ve been following the discourse in the book community, about how we should relate to problematic material and authors, and it’s gotten to a point where it’s turning toxic. A lot of the drama is perpetuated by content creators (and I use this term loosely) who know that the scandalous, the divisive and the clickbait-y content works, so they make more of it, bloating the drama without adding to the conversation. But I’ve also seen people being genuinely upset that they feel like the community is policing what they should read and like, and then going on the offensive saying, “I’m going to read what I read and like what I like”.In an age where media literacy is one of the most important skills to have turning a blind eye to problematic content isn’t a constructive solution. We’re constantly swamped in different types of media and navigating that is key for good mental health and a more equal society. As a parent, I don’t want to discourage my child from consuming media that she is interested in. And, before you tell me young children shouldn’t be consuming PG-18 media anyway, let me tell…
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