Ideas, values and culture in fiction are some of America's biggest exports. We are soaking in so many common ideas and values that we don't really see them anymore. As they say, "Fish don't discover water."
I want to look at how we talk about the economy and torture. The interesting thing is that when we change how we talk about things in our fiction, it can change how we talk about things in our non-fiction.
Looking at the media coverage of the budget and torture, I've noticed how people are carefully choosing the language, metaphors and stories they use to talk about these areas, in both fiction and non-fiction.
I'd like to have some influence in this area, we can make changes. Hopefully greater than zero. It's very possible. We did it before and we can do it again.
Tomorrow: National Budgets. Which Fiction Does the Media Like and Why.