In June, I attended a workshop focused on bringing more diversity to the writing of OpEds. In the days leading up to it, I started to feel anxious. I didn’t feel like an expert in anything. And I was sure the other participants would be “big brains” concerned about the world’s biggest problems while the only thing I wanted to write about was pop culture and representation in media. This shame and fear of judgment surrounding my love of TV has been something I’ve battled most of my life. When I was scolded for reading huge fantasy books for hours on end rather than playing outside or watching entertaining media instead of doing chores, convinced that I was not just being entertained and distracted, but seeing something deeper there than most people cared to acknowledge. I’ve always been that way, looking for connections between all of these things I love, curious about the world and the stories we tell and what we can learn about ourselves by seeking a deeper understanding. In the end, the workshop was a wonderful space to be in. I was mentored by black women with experiences that were relatable, informative, and encouraging. They made space for our perspectives, empowered us to own our voices, and told us, over and over again, that we had knowledge and experiences that were valuable and worth sharing.
So even though there’s no OpEd coming out of me anytime soon I still want to write. I still have some thoughts, resources and stories I want to share with you. I’ve been watching things that make me think about dreams, magic and legacies. I care about representation in media, queer stories, stories about women, and humanity, ethics and culture. I’m an observer and I love consuming media. I think it’s important that we invest in original stories and understand their value outside of capitalistic standards of success. I’ve been watching the landscape of media change as new streaming platforms pop up and merge, as cancellations keep hitting marginalized shows, as the way we tell stories changes based on the format and venue and model. Every day there are new conversations around casting, fandom backlashes and review bombings and box office hits and misses. I’m curious about all of it, how it connects, what it says about our culture and society, how it affects the creative ecosystem and changes us as observers and fans.
When we get down to it, the stories we tell, the characters we see, and the places we visit through tv and books and music become part of the fabric of our lives and form our histories. They can change how we see ourselves and the world, how we relate to each other, the decisions we make, and the things we value. Holding on to the magic that good stories create within us is important and I’m looking forward to having a place to write about it, create posts and lists and share articles. So thank you for reading this far. I can’t wait to share more with you.