While Atlanta has gained a considerably large fan base, it is currently in its third season and has announced that its fourth season will be its final. Though many fans that were inspired by the show are sad to see it coming to an end, it helped create a platform for shows that tackle similar topics, which fans can watch to satisfy their needs for a series with an impactful theme.
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One such show is the 2020 Hulu series, Woke, which features an impressive cast with stars like Lamorne Morris and Blake Anderson. Though this series has a noticeably different tonal approach to the topic of racism than Atlanta does, it addresses many of the same points that are relevant to our society today. Beyond that, it begins with a less informed perspective, allowing the audience to learn along with the characters.
There are some viewers that felt weighed down by some of the heavier content in Atlanta, considering how dark it can be in order to represent harsh truths. While the blunt approach that Atlanta takes can come off as intense to some, it is an essential element of the show’s style and the perspective it presents the message through. Not all stories have a happy ending, and Atlanta often acknowledges that. However, for those that feel they don’t have the emotional capacity for the difficult realities that Atlanta explores — or for fans of the show who are simply in the mood for something lighter — Woke offers a different look at many of the same factors of racism in modern society, but in a lighter tone.
Though Atlanta has several impressive comedic moments woven into the more intense parts, it’s not considered a purely comical piece. Woke, on the other hand is a comedy through and through, but one that revolves around serious issues. Despite the comedy, the message of Woke is still impactful, as viewers find themselves laughing at the responses the characters have to experiences, rather than laughing at the experiences themselves. It is carefully crafted to be a comedy that is light enough that anyone can feel comfortable watching it for the laughs, but also learn something from its message in the process.
Like Atlanta, Woke hosts a number of different characters from different walks of life to create a more balanced focus on any one topic. By offering multiple character perspectives on each topic, the audience not only has a better understanding of the point, but also has more of an opportunity of connecting to one of the perspectives. A series with several diverse characters always caters more to a broad audience by having a relatable character for everyone. This allows each viewer to form a deeper connection to what’s happening in the story.
Even more impressive, the perspective that Woke offers around the focus of the show’s message is based on a true story. It is centered around the comics and life events of Keith Knight, even going so far as to feature his own drawings in the series. Nearly all shows and films that explore intense issues within society are inevitably based on some truth or someone’s personal experiences. That said, it adds a much more detailed and raw effect to the theme to follow a real person’s experiences with an issue in society, as Woke does.
While racism is multi-faced monster that can come in many forms and be perceived differently by each person, both Woke and Atlanta explore far more than one view of it. For example, one large point surrounding racism that both shows focus on is how racism affects the path to success for people of color, as well as how white people interact with them as a result.
In Atlanta, Paper Boi’s music grows overnight in popularity, but viewers see how even this does not protect him from racism. Instead of gaining respect for his accomplishments, many of the white folks that he interacts with in the series only aim to get close to him to try to elevate their own level of success. In Woke, Keef is an overlooked comic artist that begins using his art to make a point about racism that gains a ton of attention and puts him on the map. However, while he thinks he has finally found success and an outlet to help his community, he soon realizes that there are several individuals using his success to achieve their own goals, whether Keef was aware of it or not.
There are several other overlapping points on which both shows comment, in terms of having to navigate a racist and privileged society that refuses to support the show’s characters how they need. These narratives not only create entertaining dilemmas for the characters to overcome, but they also create impactful scenarios that linger in the minds of viewers and either teach them something or inspire them to take a stand. This makes both shows stand out among other series that are similar in length because their themes focus on under-reprepresented views and point out how these issues of racism affect everyone, not just those that are directly impacted by the experiences.
Both Atlanta and Woke illustrate how deeply woven into our society racist tendencies are and how it is a nationwide crisis that has never been properly addressed, but rather mostly ignored. While most people consider racism in regards to those who are most affected by it, these shows point out that it is an ugly reality that many folks simply choose to brush aside, in order to avoid putting in the effort to address it. We see through these themes that racism – and any societal issue, for that matter – will never be truly fixed if only part of society focuses on it.
Thanks to shows like Atlanta and Woke, audiences can continue to learn from the art they consume as well as find a sense of community in it. Whether viewers prefer an intense and emotional approach to examining problematic topics, or a lighter, funny approach that is a bit easier to consume, there are many shows like these that address important points in a number of ways. Now that there is more of a push for inclusive storylines, there is no shortage of different perspectives or tones to explore them through.
MORE: Atlanta: Best Episodes Of Season 1 & 2
Source: Wikipedia - Woke (TV series)
