It's easy to forget that media literacy IS a skill. Like, its not something that you just have or you don't, you absolutely can improve your ability to pick up on metaphors and literary devices etc if you actually care to, it just takes practice (ie: watching things through a critical lense and stretching that muscle).
Along the same line of thinking I don't think people who lack media literacy are stupid. Even people with high media literacy tend to forget it's a such valuable skill, but if it wasn't valuable and wasn't something that takes practice and effort there wouldn't be so many literary breakdowns and explanation videos and reviews that get into authorial intent.
More people WANT to understand the deeper intent behind art, but a lot of people never bother to try stretching that muscle because they're convinced that they're just stupid and can't interact with media in that particular way, that that's the job for the brainy reviewers and critics.
All it takes is a little nudge and some encouragement sometimes; There was a time in our lives where none of us knew what a metaphor was. Ultimately if it's someone you care about who "misses the point" of something you like, you COULD be upset that they're "not smart enough" for it or whatever, or you could break down exactly why the point is what it is, and encourage them to look for those literary devices in other things they watch.
Everyone's gotta start somewhere.
yousharknotpass
tangentwithtanner
baratheonpilled
snowghoul
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