"It's too woke" "I miss when art wasn't political" "I hate that everything is political" "This is just DEI"
Ignoring for now that all art is political, what do you mean? Genuinely, what do you mean? Can you please explain? I am tired of people seeing a piece of media and saying one of the above quotes in response to that media.
We are adults, use your words. As kids, we were told in school to explain our answer. To be able to explain ourselves when our answer comes into question or if people want more. Woke and DEI are both umbrella terms, so they can mean anything that fits under that term; but a piece of media cannot be every meaning in one go, so be specific. Say it with your chest. If you fully believe it then you should have no problem saying it in full.
Art itself is political. Any way you want to spin it, art is political. When I go into a movie and I see that it is political, I recognize it, and I continue to watch and enjoy the film. Even if the movie isn't following my own political views, I can still watch the film. Why does it bother you so much that it is political?
Is the piece of art very clear in its political tone? Does it slap you in the face saying "I AM POLITICAL" or are you only saying it's political because a woman has more screen time? Or because the painting, or comic book, stars a gay black man? Or the singer sings that being kind to one another is important? These things aren't inherently political (99% of the time they are) and can show up naturally because the artist creating it wanted to (That's why). But you saying it is political, is making it political. Why did you do that? You don't want things to be always political, but you just made this political.
To end my rant, I'll ask a few questions. Why do people insist that Captain America: Brave New World is woke? It is political because it is Captain America, but why woke? Captain America manages to stop a war between America and Japan, and he calms down the President who has wronged him and those close to him in the past. Is that woke? Nah, maybe it's not that. Is it him lamenting the fact that America is not accepting him, a black man, as a new replacement for Captain America, even though Steve Rogers himself recommended him? Is that woke? Because if we are going to be honest, if Captain America was real in today's world, there would be an uproar in many groups if the new Cap was a black man. That isn't woke, that is factual. Or is it woke that it points out the obvious, clear history of mistreatment of black people and POC in this country? Especially the mistreatment of black army soldiers and veterans? That can't be woke, because that is also factual.
How about a different movie, Superman. How is that movie woke? Is it the fact that Superman in this movie is villainized by a billionaire because he is an illegal alien, even though he came here with good intentions? (Sound familiar?) He is on a mission to help but is being painted as evil because it makes those in power, the same people he combats, more scared than the everyday person that he protects. If you are scared Superman is going to come knocking on your door, then you must know you gave him a good reason to. Is that woke? Or is it woke because Superman doesn't want to see a country of innocent people get invaded and killed by a country larger than them, that is backed by a billionaire who created this invasion for his own selfish reasons? Is that what is woke?
Why call things woke? Why are you bothered by it being political? Is it because you disagree with the political message of a film? Well, that is fine, disagreement is healthy, and your views of the world should always be challenged to help you change and grow as person. Is it not that? Is it some other reason? You tell me.
