Is Social Commentary Ruining Falcon & The Winter Soldier?

In case you have been living under a rock for the past ten years, the discussion of social commentary in nerdy entertainment has become an increasingly popular topic for the internet to discuss. It is something that has inspired both journalists & trolls, alike, in ways that make the very idea of using movies & comics to discuss real world issues seem revolutionary & new. The problem with this “new” take on social commentary is that it’s a complete lie. Science fiction and fantasy have been used to comment on current events since their very inception. Every beloved nerdy property from Lord of the Rings to Star Trek was created with the idea that they could discuss real world issues by blurring the lines between reality & fiction just enough to remove the audiences’ preconceived prejudice.

When news outlets start creating headlines saying that Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s commentary on race, mental health, and the military is revolutionary, or when trolls start going down the rabbit hole of calling Disney’s Star Wars SJW trash because they choose to include more female and POC characters, it is truly bewildering. It is difficult to ignore that pop culture has a short memory &, as such, any precedent already existing in nerdy media before it became part of the larger “pop culture zeitgeist” is likely to be wholly ignored by most newcomers. However, if we want sci-fi and fantasy to keep evolving, then we, the fans, need to do our part to ensure that pop culture is just as aware of the history of the genres as it is of the newest additions to them. So, join us today as we dive into the world of social commentary & nerd rage on today’s edition of Dallas Geek!