We often watch TV to escape an increasingly distressing world, but some shows do the opposite.
TV shows can spark real-world change by raising awareness of issues, and some go even further, encouraging viewers to take action for social change.
Television can be an incredibly powerful yet underrated tool for activism. There’s a reason books and shows are banned in dictatorships, and we need to fight hard not to let them be.
Science Fiction Shows Play A Huge Part In Real-World Change
I’ve always admired Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone because Serling so masterfully hid social activism in science fiction stories.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, there were some things he couldn’t say outright.
He was a fierce advocate for racial and sexual equality at a time when those ideas were considered taboo to talk about on television.
I loved how cleverly he hid his messages in science-fiction stories. They aren’t subtle, yet they went over the heads of network censors.
Climate change, anti-racism, and avoiding scapegoating were topics close to his heart, to name just a few.
Science fiction, in general, can help change minds and hearts.
Serling was especially successful because he used an anthology format, but most science fiction shows offer commentary on current events and spark real-world change.
Nowadays, some people are quick to call shows like Doctor Who “woke,” but they are merely doing what all science fiction does: put real-life problems in a fictional context so that people understand the issue and are motivated to do something about it.
Doctor Who has done 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 destroy the Daleks before they can oppress the universe and I first saw it when I was five!
It’s sometimes hard to quantify how much real-world change you get out of shows like this.
People enjoy them and are upset by some of the things that happen in them, but if it doesn’t go any further than that, has it done its job?
Awareness Is An Important First Step
Obviously, awareness is an important aspect of sparking real-world change. You can’t fix a problem that you don’t know exists.
The shows that spark real-world change are the ones that are impressively written, whether sci-fi, mystery, family drama, or some other genre.
When a show presents a character with serious conflict and a less-than-ideal resolution, that’s a powerful motivator for real-world change—as long as it’s true to the characters.
As the credits roll, it makes the audience think about the issue and decide what they think about it, and sometimes that sparks something.
‘Some shows, if they’re dealing with a mental health issue such as suicide or domestic violence, might also follow that up with a hotline to call or a statistic about the issue being discussed.
That gives people something actionable they can do right now if they’re bothered by an issue. It also gives reviewers like me something to talk about to help other viewers understand the issue.
Diverse Representation Is Important For Sparking Real-World Change
Diverse representation is one of those things that is tricky to get right, but it can make a huge difference.
We’re inspired to create real-world change when we see people who are like us, especially if we’re part of marginalized groups.
There’s something to be said for not feeling alone in the world.
That’s the thing that television can most do to spark real-world change.
When it gives us characters that are like us so that we can feel understood and supported, that encourages us to go out into the world and make a difference.
Diverse representation is part of that. As a transgender kid, I didn’t even know there was a word for what I was, so I didn’t understand who I was.
Having transgender kids on TV helps solve that problem, which is only one example of the way TV can spark real-world change. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a decline in LGBTQ+ representation, which needs to change ASAP for this reason.
Just as importantly, having a diverse group of characters who are dealing with the same issues or have the same identity helps prevent stereotyping.
This is especially important for complex issues like trauma, which present differently in different people.
Showing the many facets of these issues is vital for real-world change because without understanding the entire issue, people can’t act to change it.
Television Can Inspire Real-World Change Through Compelling Characters
The most powerful thing television can do is give us characters that inspire us.
Sometimes change begins with us, and the things our favorite characters say and do can help us make changes in our own lives.
Our favorite TV characters can inspire us to be bolder in our own lives, stand up for what we believe in, and fight for what we think is right.
When we see them standing up to powerful people and admire their fighting spirit, it gives us courage, too.
They can also impart wisdom that helps us keep going during difficult times.
Over to you, TV fanatics. How has television inspired you to make real-world changes, either for yourself or for others?
Hit the comments with your thoughts.