Referencing Global Issues

Through literature, authors reference global issues and target a population to become knowledgeable. Through the glamorization in books, this is a place to educate readers on social issues in the world. This becomes a mass media that educates while serving comfort to others. This is, “a tool for … bringing to light various social issues that run rampant but are ignored,” (Ratha, 2017). Literature not only inspires, but it can predict where the future is heading. For example, the future of Misogyny can be represented in the Handmaid's Tale, books with a strong black female lead can be seen in The Hate You Give, and LGBTQ+ books like Heartstopper, are examples of content that are targeted to specific identities of people. Society has gone a step further by popularizing these books into films, reaching more audiences and expanding culture. The culture of art and impressionism is an art form where a, “new distribution system based on critics, dealers, and small exhibitions challenged the Academy system and created a very different art world,” (Roy, 87). What Roy is trying to convey is that since literature is an art form, when knowledge becomes a part of the story, it inspires the reader to act accordingly. The point of knowledge in literature is to empower consumers and allow those to have possibilities (Gautheir, 2022). Using literature and mass media to influence, inspires creativity and an expression of ideology to look at the new world with a new perspective (Gautheir, 2022). Individuals must talk and learn about themselves through the popular culture in literature, in order to better understand it (Gautheir, 2022).

In accordance, when reading these books, individuals can see themselves portrayed in the media (persons of color, LGBTQ, etc), where they are not popularized by traditional mainstream culture. Having representation in literature helps readers accurately understand society by seeing the world through someone else's perspective, and being able to relate (Blahey, 2021). Children who begin to read from a young age become influential, and being exposed to diversity helps them actualize culture. This is especially true for children who are black or gay; because popular books are classically white main characters. In the black community, “black women use genre fiction to recreate their own realities and to define places of spiritual power and reclamation,” (Popiolek, 2022). Literature that is diverse, creates a healthy imagination and confidence for the reader. The influence of popular culture forms a perception that understanding literature past consumption, “is a powerful mode of both solidifying commitment to social movements and for helping them achieve their goals,” (Roy, 86). Representation in literature, allows the book to be broadened towards different communities. Knowledge of societal issues gives the audience a platform to identity, especially if it is not highlighted in mainstream news.