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Not to sound like a smug elitist, but if there's one "mistake" I notice when people do media analysis, it's not separating what a medium *does* from what a medium *says it does*Permalink On twitter.com
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As a super easy example of this, I'll use The Rising of the Shield Hero's RaphtaliaPermalink On twitter.com
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So if we were to listen to what SH *says* about Raphtalia, we'd come to the conclusion that SH is actually a feminist and woke show. The show *says* Raphtalia joins Naofumi on her own. The show *says* she's a strong fighter who doesn't let anyone take advantage of her.On twitter.com
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The show *says* that her relationship with Naofumi is mutually beneficial and built on genuine trust and equality.Permalink On twitter.com
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But what does the show *do*? The show MAKES HER A SLAVE SHE IS AN ACTUAL OBJECT BY LAW LAW THAT THE PROTAGONIST IS GIVEN MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE AND REFUSESPermalink On twitter.com
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Raphtalia's "choices" are to be Naofumi's slave or to make it out in a world that legally discriminates her and risk being kidnapped and sold into slavery again. From a more neutral perspective, the fact that Naofumi ends up being a nice guy is luck. Not "agency".Permalink On twitter.com
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Shield Hero is a really obvious example because it stupidly thinks it can patch over chattel slavery with a couple lines of throwaway dialogue about how Raphtalia is strong and stuff. But a lot of media aren't not this cut and dry. A lot of media tell much more convincing liesPermalink On twitter.com
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From personal experience: be wary of stories that *tell* you a character has changed instead of just letting their actions speak for themselves. Stories that assert that someone is a good person instead of showing it are also sus. Shows that do this are (usually) lying to youPermalink On twitter.com