The realistic portrayals of abysmal human working conditions in the food-service industry found in The Jungle led to changes in public policy. Those changes we

The realistic portrayals of abysmal human working conditions in the food-service industry found in The Jungle led to changes in public policy. Those changes were in food safety regulation and not labor law, but changes were made. It's almost as if the artist can only bring out something that already exists in the audience. Everyone sees it through their own personal lens. If a movie existed that realistically portrayed poverty, that would only move the viewer to the extent that they can relate to the characters. One person might be motivated to reform the social safety net to provide better support. Another might reaffirm their personal preconception that poor people are brutish, unintelligent, useless, and irredeemable, and might just sign on to a new eugenics program to sterilize indigents and undesirables. The art rekindles empathy that is already there. If it wasn't already present, it is a lot more difficult to make it grow there from other places in the psyche.