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White, rural voters have been excoriated in some quarters of the media for voting for Donald Trump. Consequently, popular culture depictions of those in the outlying areas are often viewed through a political lens.
Why We Wrote This
At a time when the United States is divided along political and urban-rural lines, what do three recent films about country lives add to the conversation?
Those living in small-town America worry about how theyâre portrayed by filmmakers whoâve parachuted into a locale. Others argue that the outsider storytellers can bring fresh perspectives to socioeconomic issues. But thereâs also widespread agreement that Hollywood should venture into the outer reaches of red states more often and try to tell nuanced stories about what unites and divides us.