By Jada Ingleton

An exclusive screening of a political documentary says national power players and misinformed media tactics contribute to extreme narratives of division and misalignment in the nation. 

“UNDIVIDE US,”  directed by Kristina Kendall, delves into the toxic polarization of the country. 

The documentary centers around residents of three American cities who represent various social groups, demographics and political stances as they come to analyze the viewpoints of their counterparts. 

With abortion, immigration, gun control and more at the forefront of the discussion, the participants and subject experts said they prioritize the mission of understanding opposing perspectives and learning to disagree better. 

Following a free screening of the film, the Museum of Political Corruption’s DISRUPT Film Series hosted a fireside panel with the film’s director to discuss the state of America’s political diversity. She was joined by Ben Klutsey, Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange, and Jasmine Ramsey, Program Director for Beyond Conflict, who emphasized the necessity for a shift in the views on political engagement–most notably the need for more conversation and less like-mindedness. 

“When you have to take the perspective of the other person…I’m putting myself into your shoes. Even though it’s not my opinion, and I don’t have to change my mind, it humanizes everything about you,” Kendall said. “The combination of those tendrils to taking the perspective of someone else, I think there’s a magic in that.” 

According to experts and analysts of the film, the media has played a crucial role in the political divide of the nation due to decades of misinformation and the shortcomings of governmental institutions. 

“[There is] a sense of a lack of trust in the institutions…and a decline in social trust,” Klutsey said. If you think the other person – the red or the blue – is a threat to [your] existence, then you’re going to have a really hard time trusting them.” 

The three panelists offered ways to avoid political division in everyday interactions. In the list of resolutions, microsocial interactions, post-political spaces, accountability and the maintenance of civil friendships were suggested. 

“That ethos of responsible consumerism in journalism is actually a really important conversation. Ultimately, we as consumers have to take much more responsibility for what we’re clicking on and what we’re giving power to in our lives,” Kendall said. 

E. Scott Osborne, event moderator and Museum of Political Corruption trustee, pledged that the institution will continue advocating for the normalization of disagreement and open dialogue in politics, an approach that she believes can enhance education and unity within the nation.  

Evidently, this sentiment was echoed by the film’s guest speakers and participants, including Dee Allsop, CEO and founder of Heart + Mind Strategies.

“I would think the most important thing is to open your minds to understand others first, rather than be understood. We too often start out from a place of ‘I know where I want to go. How do I get there?’” Allsop said. “I would encourage people to see who is around them and what we all want and how we could get there together.”
To request a screening or get tickets to another location, visit the film’s main website.