Focusing In

I like to consider myself an optimist. While I may be pragmatic if there is a chance for a good outcome or the possibility things could get better I put effort into believing and working for that outcome. I try to give the benefit of the doubt and people as many chances as they need…

But sometimes people just suck and there is no better way to put it.

For my course, Digital Writing for Social Action, students are tasked with picking an issue to focus in on during the semester. A topic they would want to hone in on and write about — and in all fairness, there are so many routes I could take because while I may be an optimist there are so many heartbreaking and horrible things in modern-day culture that have become the norm, or at least aren’t criticized enough.

One thing that I have considered making my main area of focus in my writing is the massive amount of pressure put on child actors or children and teens with large social media followings. In my post “A new era for the entertainment industry” I touch a little bit on how teens and children have established huge fanbases on platforms like Tiktok, youtube, twitch, etc. and the unbelievable accomplishments some can achieve through these online mediums.

However, with all the perks, the brand deals and fame beyond their wildest dreams come with unwarranted expectations and stress. Some horrible people wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of their inexperience, willingness to please, and drive to be successful. Also, consider stars like Miley Cyrus, Amanda Bynes, the Olsen Twins, and so many other celebrities that were in the child actor circuit that have spoken out about how harmful being in that industry that young was.

One incredible article addressing this was a People interview with Demi Lovato, who was a child star on shows like barney as well as taking the Disney route- getting her own TV show, Sonny with a Chance, and multiple movies like Princess Protection Program and the Camp Rock Franchise. She also has been public about her struggle with self-image, drugs, and overall being happy afterward.

In the lens of digital writing for social action, there are so many avenues I could take with this topic. How young actors and stars are forced to grow up way before they are ready and take on responsibilities they shouldn’t have to. Why are there not better resources for these kids and what should be implemented in the industry to improve working conditions. And also, just talking about the stigma, unfair expectations, and overall hardships they face because again for many of these children they are being told how to look, how to act, and how to be 24/7.

Young Actors, like the Stranger Things cast including Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin, and thrust into the spotlight and then expected to handle and deal with the same issues and expectations as their adult counterparts.

This idea came to me when i noticed a controversy surrounding the mega popular sereies “Euphoria” making headlines. Actress Sydney Sweeney opened up about asking the shows creator Sam Levinson to remove some of the topless scenes he had her characer doing — which he had been very receptive of — and it has sparked a dialog about the inate nature of the entertainment industry to push the sexualization of women they see on screen.

I mean think about it, what do you see more when companies are trying to sell products? I can vividily remember as a child going to the bowling alley with my family and seeing these burger comercials with scantlizly women on cars trying to connice people to go to that fastfood establishment.

Going beyond this too — the editing that some publications do make women look “more appealing”. One video that i think highlights this pheonmenally is in 2016 a group known as the Try Guys, four men, who worked for Buzzfeed picked photos and had themselves photoshoped like women were in the same situation.

Im heavily considering focusing on this topic because I’d genuily like to draw attention to the disparity between the sexualization between male actors and female actors, and why not only is this oversexualization unhealthy — it is purely unacceptable.

Regardless if I pick either of these topics, I’m very excited to start honing in on an issue and spending time developing content to help bring some under dissussed topics more attention. I may just be one voice, but I am a voice that is going to make myself heard in the hope that one day things will be better.