The question comes down to, ‘Are you the hero? Are you the blue-eyed blonde farm, boy that saves the universe?’

Sure, it’s a moisture farm, but farm boy he is. And if not, who are you? Because that is what one of the largest media properties in the history of the moving image, where do you belong? Are you one of his compatriots? And equal? A supporting character? A background character? A faceless victim in a battle? Some bystander? Someone not even worthy or mention or screen time? 

This is what art, media, the moving image, presents us. And if you aren’t in the story, where are you?

This is what representation means. This is why we need new stories, with new heroes, new villains, new ideas not beholden to the long-held stereotypes that made what we have seen before.

We need to let every kid, no matter who they are, no matter how they look, how they identify as a human being, know that they can be the centre of the story, the one who makes a difference, the one who saves the universe.

Because if we don’t let them know they can dream big, if we take away their chance at dreaming, of imagining, of belonging in the greatest stories we all look at, aren’t we saying they don’t belong, don’t have a place, don’t have value in our society.

Everyone can be a hero, little or small, saving a universe or a single soul, we just need to make sure everyone knows that. That is what our stories are for.

-Saeed Parker - Social Engineer, Human Centred Solutions, Primary Council, Health Council

Excerpt from “Society Stories, the creation of a new community”