People talk about representation, but is it really that? It feels more like people are guilty for consuming slop so they want the slop to have a socially-conscious message. That way they can consume slop and feel like they're making a difference by giving attention to real issues. It's the same kind of ethical consumption thing that businesses have been doing for decades. That, somehow, by buying ethically sourced goods or green products you're helping. But buying can never be helping. You can't change the world through consumer choices.
Then I guess the next thing is that if we're going to have consumerism anyways, why not let it be ethical consumerism? Why not let Disney make a sci-fi, action-comedy about suicide and PTSD? I mean if nothing else it makes people going through those things feel better, right? But does it? Does seeing yourself reflected in media really help you or make you feel better? You deserve to feel better and you deserve help, but it should be real help. Soothing you by offering you a fun-house mirror just seems cruel. Plus, when it comes time to get rid of Disney, the argument will be that they produce so much stuff that makes people feel better that it's actually bad to get rid of them.
"One who collects the funko pops which have been manufactured for collection, accumulates the indulgences of the commodity, a glorious sign of his real presence among the faithful. Reified man advertises the proof of his intimacy with the commodity. The fetishism of commodities reaches moments of fervent exaltation similar to the ecstasies of the convulsions and miracles of the old religious fetishism. The only use which remains here is the fundamental use of submission." -Guy Debord 1967
I've heard the argument from christians that there is a "God shaped hole" in everyone that needs to be filled. Ideally, you would fill it with God and religion. They say that the hole can be filled with drugs, sex or any other manner of "debauchery", but it will never be filled properly.
They're almost there. I think there is this "seeking the other" shaped hole in humans that never really gets filled, and that's how you account for the conquests of old, and the consumerism of these days.
Everyone just wants to belong. They want to find their tribe. Some people have cynically realized the money making potential of exploiting those desires.
Then the conversation enters into vaguely Buddhist territory, and I am not qualified to talk about that.