Classic and Contemporary Films: Why Certain Stories Would Face Controversy Today

Some classic and contemporary films that might face severe controversy if made today are those with outdated racial attitudes, gender norms, or other problematic content. This issue highlights the importance of filmmakers being mindful of the social impacts of their creative choices. However, what about creative works from personal experiences and thoughts of the younger generation? Would personal writing, such as stories written during childhood, still pose a challenge if published today?

Childhood Writings and Current Sensitivities

My personal experience has led me to consider an interesting point: writings from childhood, particularly those spanning from 2008 to 2017, would be too controversial to publish nowadays. Traditionally, we might point to classic films with overtly problematic elements, but my experience has taken a different angle. While political sensitivities on the left may require some editing, such as addressing outdated gender norms and ableist language, there are significant challenges on the right.

Left-Wing Considerations

On the left, the main issues would be addressing outdated and problematic rhetoric, such as 'not like other girls' and conflating sex and gender. Some ableist language and vague racial stereotypes might also need to be removed or adjusted. However, the core of the stories from a child's perspective would not be significantly altered, as most of the problematic content was random internal monologues or small snippets of dialogue that could be easily edited out.

Right-Wing Considerations

On the right, the challenges are much more substantial. Parents from this political spectrum would not want their children exposed to stories involving people transforming into different genders, attempts to dismantle the school system, and a main character with a strict moral compass. These themes are central to many such stories and cannot be easily edited out without compromising the core narrative. Therefore, such works would not be approved for greenlighting, regardless of how they are revised for modern sensibilities.

Impact of Political Climate on Creativity

The political atmosphere today is particularly hostile to core themes in personal creative works, especially for those written during childhood. This is a common refrain in many authors' and creators' experiences. The quality of early works might not be high, but the political hangups and specific themes, such as extensive female-to-male transformations and anti-establishment narratives, are what pose the most significant challenges today.

Conclusion

Contemporary social and political climates have made it increasingly difficult to create, publish, or approve certain types of creative works. This reality applies not only to classic films but also to personal writings from childhood. It is crucial for today's filmmakers and creators to be aware of and sensitive to the evolving societal and cultural norms.