The Power of Representation in Movies
November 12, 2019
When I was 7, I desperately wanted to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz for Halloween. My mom took us to the fabric store in search of a pattern and fabric for what would be my standby costume for the next 2 years. We spent evenings carefully assembling the blue gingham dress while I gleefully painted a pair of shoes red, sprinkling them with red glitter for the perfect ruby slippers. I proudly carried my Easter basket filled with a stuffed dog skipping down my imaginary yellow brick road to the neighbors. That beloved memory of bringing my favorite character to life re-surfaced this weekend as I was getting ready for bed.
Wonder Woman director, Patti Jenks, shared a screenshot of feedback her producer received from a Kindergarten worker. She detailed observations of how the kids viewed the world the week after seeing the movie.
My heart swelled with joy as I read this. We are experiencing an unnerving change in the world at the moment, as old systems are challenged and new systems are created. These little moments are like windows into the future, if we continue to intentionally include people of all kinds in leading roles.
"Consider this your friendly reminder that if this movie completely changed the way these girls and boys thought about themselves and the world in a week, imagine what the next generation will achieve if we give them more movies like Wonder Woman."
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