Why Do Audiences Care If Something Is Based On A True Story

In all the media that audiences consume, the question of authenticity always lingers. From the most fantastical of fiction series to the many documentaries consumed monthly, there is without a doubt that viewers will and have questioned the validity and ultimately the quality of a film or series depending on how authentic it is.

What is interesting about this particular topic is that the search for authenticity comes from an infinite number of sources, and thus produces a plethora of worthwhile discussions that filmmakers and showrunners have either taken into account or have yet to platform. While it would be impossible for this one article to cover every corner of discourse regarding authenticity, it would provide a strong contribution for further discussion and hopefully a different yet valid lens to evaluate media with.

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So, does factuality matter, and why do we care if something is based on a so-called true story?

The Illusion of Fiction v. Reality

     NBCUniversal  

Fiction and reality may seem oppositional, but are actually tied to the same foundation. Whether audiences would admit it or not, fiction is a reflection of reality, just a creative reimagining that reshapes reality to highlight something about it. As a result, the fiction that gets consumed tends to reiterate existing beliefs or practices that occur in the real world.

Nonetheless, points of contention do not stem from whether reality exists in fiction. The discourse regards which stories are prioritized, which stories are cast aside, and how both decisions can result in a beautiful display of human ingenuity, compassion, and collaboration or a harmful distortion of reality that further exacerbates existing issues in the real world.

Fiction as a Mirror

     MTV Networks  

Take Avatar: The Last Airbender for example. The show follows a group of tweens and teens fighting against a ruthless empire using bending or the magical manipulation of elements, as well as sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat.

Many fans are aware that various Asian and Indigenous cultures serve as the foundation for the extraordinary world of Avatar. Furthermore, many of the show’s settings take inspiration from Western cities, namely Republic City in the Legend of Korra series.

However, what makes the show compelling is its critiques of imperialism and genocides with compassionate portrayals of characters navigating trauma, queerness, and relationships both platonic and romantic. In the successor series, The Legend of Korra sees how imperialism shapes world affairs, especially when viewers meet the frigid Earth Queen. While the lore, the technology, and the bending pull viewers in, it is ultimately the lessons the protagonists learn and the consequences of the character’s actions that not only speak to the reality of our world but spark conversation about circumstances in the show and in reality that affect a plethora of people.

Using Fiction to Emphasize Real Historical Traumas

     Cartoon Network Studios  

Everyone from American writer and video-essayist Princess Weekes to Winona Guo of the Harvard Political Review not only acknowledges but embraces Avatar: The Last Airbender and similar shows, such as Steven Universe, for their diverse world-building and critiques of colonialism. However, both stress that behind the wonderful settings of Avatar exists tales of triumph and trauma, both nuanced and otherwise, across Asia and Native tribes. The stories of real-life people were necessary to create the franchise, and thus they must be treated as such, with genuine compassion and respect to the various ethnic groups that live with us today.

Even for a show as fantastic as Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans need to realize and should invite good-faith criticisms about the series because said critiques harken back to the very real lives and experiences of these underrepresented groups.

The Implications of a Reality Fabricated

On the other side of conversations about authenticity are programs considered too real, shows that are inspired by disturbing true stories and based on real people without consideration for the survivors of said incidents. Documentaries about serial killers, podcast hosts gushing over their “favorite” murders, and bloody true crime dramas can be just as harmful, if not more than the lazy and crude stereotypes in fictional media.

Reimagining a true story does not erase the lived experiences of survivors and their close-knit circle or their trauma. If anything, the carelessness of filmmakers and showrunners speaks over victims and survivors while also peddling false narratives and concepts about crime, law enforcement, and the judicial system at large. As a result, many have seen a rise of a vigilante jury on social media, one that has not or willingly refuses to interrogate their own biases, the ones which ultimately guides what information to digest and what systems to support.

     Netflix  

2022 saw many social media users reckon with the consequences of taking these traumatic situations and turning them into a spectacle, entertainment for the masses (in fact, the 2022 film Nope is very much about this issue). The slew of celebrity trials saw everyday users either succumb to or actively fight against misinformation, and disinformation became alarmingly real.

In the simplest of terms, people care about authenticity in their media for more reasons than only wanting to see themselves within a story. Since the inception of media, narratives have and will continue to shape how people view each other. When these narratives prove to be harmful, criticism should be invited. Of course, a healthy dose of criticism can improve the quality of a media project. However, it also calls into question the very real beliefs of creators, companies, and executives behind these programs. Beliefs that ultimately slip out of the screens and into the homes of everyday people.