It's Been a Minute Pop culture has a "bean soup problem."
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May 21, 2025 
Aisha Harris, pop culture critic and co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, dives deep into the complexities of media literacy. She discusses the varying interpretations of Ryan Coogler's film 'Sinners,' questioning if we are experiencing a media literacy crisis. The conversation explores the 'bean soup problem,' revealing how personal biases shape our understanding of narratives. Aisha also examines how societal contexts influence perceptions of art, emphasizing the challenges posed by social media in grasping complex stories.
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Media Literacy Challenges in Pop Culture
- Online discourse reveals confusion in interpreting pop culture symbols and narratives.
- Media literacy involves decoding and critically analyzing content for deeper understanding.
Debate Over 'Wicked' as Resistance
- Michael R. Jackson critiqued the claim that Wicked is a resistance musical.
- The production notes say Wicked allegorizes the rise of fascist movements.
Missed Subtext in Media Interviews
- Katie Couric asked Noah Wiley a question showing she missed the big emotional subtext in The Pit.
- This reflects how modern audiences struggle to read subtle media cues.