2019/01/02 by Michelle I. Seelig
Social Sciences · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Media Studies and Communication #Social Media and Politics
paper · doi:10.1080/10714421.2019.1569449
crossref issued 2019/01/02 · crossref published 2019/01/02 · crossref published-print 2019/01/02 · openalex publication_date 2019/01/02 · crossref published-online 2019/01/30 · crossref created 2019/01/30 · crossref deposited 2024/07/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The present essay comparatively explores and reflects on popularizing the environment in a changing media ecology wherein content is no longer exclusive to traditional television viewing or distributed for cinematic release. Specifically, the aim of this essay is to illustrate how screened presentations such as film, television, and recently digital media, promote environmentalist ideals in the hopes that if audiences are entertained, then perhaps these narratives can subtly influence thinking and behavior. This review also draws from research on mediating the environment in television and film studies as well as scholarly literature on entertainment-education. The implications of this essay indicate that whether real or fictional, eco-friendly content is growing in popular media and no longer the backdrop to the story being told. As this essay shows, media professionals have started embracing entertaining content infused with content of value so that audiences can “see” why the environment is important.