Beyond “It Didn’t Age Well”: Media Literacy, Virtue Mirroring, and Judging Older Media
Deeper media analysis can foster a more nuanced understanding of both past and present content. (📷:mylifesnotes) I n today’s online conversations, especially on social media, it is common to read that a beloved movie or show “didn’t age well”. This phrase often marks the end of debate rather than inviting closer analysis. For example, a magazine notes that older Hollywood classics are full of “blatant examples of racism, misogyny and homophobia” . Viewers then use this as a catch-all reason to dismiss these works outright. But simply declaring content outdated or offensive undercuts any chance to understand why those stereotypes or attitudes appeared. It prevents us from asking questions about the story’s intentions, the creator’s context, or the norms of the time. In effect, saying “it hasn’t aged well” can be a way of avoiding the hard work of examining media critically. 'This didn't age well... (The Osbournes)' ▶️2m06s This problem is exacerbated by our current f...