Defusing Culture Wars With Humor
We really love to laugh here at Galvanize Action. Who doesn’t? We also really love collaborating with allies working to advance progress in this country. So when we had the opportunity to team up with some super funny and talented folks to create an animated series addressing culture wars, we were thrilled. Creator/Writer Melissa Samuels, Director/Editor Adam Parker, and producers Gutsy Media/Wake Up & Vote partnered with Galvanize Action to develop The Littletons.
Neuroscience teaches us that humor is a helpful strategy for sidestepping defense mechanisms and connecting with an audience. In a series of six short episodes, The Littletons uses humor along with our research, messaging, and voter understanding to address current hot topics like the backlash to equity in schools, abortion access, immigration, and democracy. The characters also tap into nostalgia, making the overall experience one of entertainment rather than the viewer feeling like they’re watching a political ad or educational program.
In the first episode, we meet Janice Littleton who decides to run for the school board after attending a chaotic meeting. While collecting signatures for her campaign, Janice finds herself in conversations about “critical race theory.” The episode uses our research and messaging insights to proactively address the fears this issue raises for folks, while also combatting disinformation on the topic.
A later episode addresses abortion access utilizing our proven-effective strategy of centering compassion in the messaging. The story positions Janice as a supportive relative rather than the person considering an abortion for herself. We recommend this approach because it bypasses complicated feelings the audience may have and instead goes straight to their clarity about how best to support a loved one.
Want more of The Littletons? Watch, download, and share all of the episodes with your networks today! Together, we can share a laugh, combat disinformation, and shift culture.
