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Working Class Perspectives in Works of Art and Entertainment? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 week ago by wolfinthewoods@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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So, it dawned on me while watching a documentary directed by an obviously well-to do upper-middle class guy, that most media is slanted towards upper-class sensibilities and perspectives more often than not. This is especially prevalent in movies and tv where the main characters are typically upper-class or even rich. I'd always had an aversion to these depictions, but I've never fully articulated my disillusionment with it. The problem is that these depictions of "average" families are woefully unrepresentative of your average person.

My question is: what is some media, in any format, that is informed by a working-class perspective?

I've found a few obvious authors out there, like Steinbeck, Bukowski and Irvine. But am interested in not only authors, but artists of all kinds and different mediums. Alternative comix and independent cinema, and things like zines spring to mind as mediums that might have more representation along those lines. Are there any specifically worker derived works that any of you can recommend?

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[–] Mr_Fish@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I've seen a musical called Rent. It's about people in New York who are homeless/stuck in poverty around when HIV was at its peak. Honestly I don't know much about it, I mostly saw it because a friend of mine was performing, but it's definitely not a typical upper middle class perspective.

[–] CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net 14 points 1 week ago

I unironically love the description of one of the most successful and influential works of art ever created as a musical you once saw because your friend was in it. That's as working class as it gets.

[–] wolfinthewoods@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

Haha, thanks. I'm surprised there's someone out there that isn't even familiar with Rent in passing. My ex was a theater major and she looooved Rent, but even I had heard of it before that. I'm not sure I could survive watching the movie again. I think seeing a stage production of Rent would have been awesome though, especially if I knew someone in the play. I DO dig the overall perspective of it, from what I do remember of watching it years ago.