So much to watch! But how do you find the good stuff?

UC Berkeley Professor Abigail De Kosnik leads the Media Education Research Lab, which evaluates how movies and TV shows portray diverse characters and complex identities. The lab’s work highlights that strong representation includes flawed, imperfect characters rather than only positive portrayals. De Kosnik argues this approach fosters a healthier cultural understanding by reflecting the full spectrum of human experience.

The lab, founded in 2020, emerged amid national conversations on diversity spurred by movements like Black Lives Matter and Stop AAPI Hate. Researchers analyze 10 films and 10 TV series annually from 2019 to 2022, including titles such as Pixar’s Toy Story 4 and HBO’s Hacks. Each selection undergoes a dual review process combining viewing and audience reception research across platforms like Reddit and Rotten Tomatoes.

De Kosnik describes today’s media landscape as a fractured, post-network era where thousands of streaming options create personalized bubbles. She notes this abundance has also expanded opportunities for diverse storytelling, though audiences still struggle to identify quality representation amid algorithm-driven recommendations.

The Media Education Research Lab aims to help audiences navigate this overload by tagging content based on representation quality. De Kosnik emphasizes media as a gateway to broader perspectives, encouraging intentional consumption beyond automated suggestions to foster cultural awareness and critical engagement.