As people try to figure out what they want to do with their lives, they’ll often search for inspiration anywhere. One of the most common exposures to potential future careers as adolescents is film and television. A show like “Sex and the City” might interest someone in journalism, while a movie franchise like “Indiana Jones” might interest someone in archaeology.
In early high school, my mom wanted me to watch “Legally Blonde” with her. I’d had an interest in law for a while, but after seeing both the first and second movie back to back, I felt so much more compelled to pursue a law career. Seeing a charismatic female protagonist placed in a role traditionally dominated by men reinforced my future plans.
Even if the depictions aren’t entirely accurate, they can sometimes spark an interest in a field someone might not have thought of before. When “The X-Files” came out in the 1990s, a study found that 63% of women who were familiar with Agent Scully’s portrayal as a female FBI agent and doctor were more confident in pursuing a STEM career.
While these portrayals often exaggerate reality, the dramatization is less about accuracy and more about storytelling. In some cases, it can even inspire audiences to explore careers they otherwise might not consider.
“Storytelling runs on conflict, and a lot of times in real life, some of these jobs that are portrayed are going to have long stretches where it’s pretty boring,” said Katherine Craft, assistant professor of practice in radio-television-film. “People tune in for interesting, exciting (and) dramatic stories. … The show is going to be pretty boring if you’re just incredibly beholden to making sure that every single thing is correct and true to life.”
Having no knowledge of archaeology, seeing “Indiana Jones” can make it seem like death-defying action and treasure hunting. In reality, the field is a methodical, scientific practice of excavation, documentation and research. However, the purpose of this franchise was not to demonstrate true archaeological practices, but rather to tell a heroic tale.
Much like the “Indiana Jones” franchise exaggerating archaeology, there are plenty of TV shows and films that do the same for law. Hadi Aldahni, a pre-law honors government and applied economics junior, has worked at a law firm for two years and seen firsthand what happens in the legal field.
“I’ve watched all of ‘Suits’ about four or five times. The first time I saw it, I was in high school and didn’t know anything about the legal field, so I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Aldahni said. “Like that’s the dream.”
In some cases, the exaggeration of careers reinforces stereotypes and can even misrepresent entire fields. For example, assistant roles are oftentimes portrayed by women while many strong leadership roles are played by men. These kinds of representations, when done over and over, can raise concerns about storytelling.
“There are certain stories, certain workplaces (and) certain careers that you should think critically about how you are portraying them as a creator and writer,” Craft said. “But I also think that viewers need to realize that this is fiction (they’re) watching.”
Students can use these portrayals as inspiration to pursue an interest further through classes, student orgs, networking or firsthand practice. While careers on screen don’t always reflect reality, they aren’t meant to. Sometimes, a compelling story is exactly what it takes to get someone to imagine their future differently.
Cintron is a journalism junior from Houston, Texas.
