In our class, we’ve been discussing how the media acts on us. Recently, I read Nick Drnaso’s graphic novel Sabrina, which I think exemplifies these ideas. Paired with Jordan Peele’s film Nope, both works provide powerful critiques on how media influences our understanding of events and the world around us.

Sabrina portrays how the media distorts trauma. The novel examines the aftermath of a woman’s murder, focusing on how those closest to her navigate their grief while enduring relentless news coverage, conspiracy theories, all under the public eye. The media’s obsession with the story twists the narrative after being completely exploited for attention, overshadowing the great loss itself.

Similarly, the alien in Nope is a powerful symbol of how obsessed society is with chasing fame through exploitation. OJ and Emerald’s plan to film the alien and make money off the footage mirrors the way the media constantly values attention over doing what’s right. You see the same thing happen with the animals in the movie, they’re used for entertainment without much thought about their well-being or the consequences of exploiting them.Both Sabrina and Nope highlight how the media has gotten to a point where it prioritizes attention grabbing clips and information over ethical considerations. These pieces make us think about the real impact these stories have on the people at the center of them. Instead of just accepting what we see, these mediums push us to approach the media with more thought and care.