movies

Most stories do contain real world politics and references to previous literature, it's just that media literacy is at an all time low amongst everyone from gamers to moviegoers, so it's all about what makes them "feel" good.

I'll draw a parallel to Star Wars here with a videogame called Ace Combat. It takes place in a fictional world, but with many similarities to our own world. In this video game franchise, the Belkan war is basically their version of WW2, and the nation of Belka represents Nazi Germany. There are so many references to WW2 and Germany, from the Belkans all having German names, the rise of an extreme right wing political party in Belka after economic hardship, Belka's invasion of all their neighbours though blitz warfare, references to the Siegfried and Maginot defensive lines (known as the Hydrian line and Glatisant in game missions), the 101st airborne division liberating towns Belka occupied, a mission in game called "inferno", where you bomb the Belkan city of Hoffnung (a clear reference to the real world bombing of Dresden), the partitioning of Belka into two countries post war, the Belkan superweapons being called "V1" and "V2", crazy ~~Nazi~~ Belkan scientists showing up in the sequels, etc. The parallels are endless. There are also plenty of references to Arthurian literature in game.

Yet, just how Star Wars has "the empire did nothing wrong" fans, Ace Combat also has some "Belka did nothing wrong" fans. I just think this can be an very basic illustration of how fascism and imperialism are popular. When you put the same scenarios in fictional settings and people suddenly start rooting for the fash or imperialists. It's why education is so important, and why basic media literacy is required to interpret and understand. All those English classes spent analysing literature in high school are actually very important.