I recently came across this answer which recommends that the OP watch a popular movie that focuses on a situation similar to the one that the question is asking about.
We had a conversation in chat about whether or not films and tv shows were acceptable backup for a post. The conversation was brief and did not have many people involved, but the more common belief was that movies/tv are not great backup. I certainly don't believe that an answer based entirely on seeing a similar interpersonal situation in a movie would be a good answer here, but things get a bit fuzzier in situations like the answer I linked.
The linked example
The example I linked is a bit of a grey area because the movie being mentioned is not being used as the sole backup for the answer. Instead, the answer references a psychology blog that draws on several research studies to form conclusions about topics related to the question being asked. In addition to linking to this study, the answerer also recommends watching a movie
You might wanna watch this movie (Crazy Rich Asians). It's an exaggerated comedy genre, but it'd be good for you.
The suggestion is qualified by pointing out that the movie is a fictional comedy, but it the fact that it is being recommended still implies that the author thinks there is merit in watching the movie in order to learn interpersonal skills.
Possible issues
There are a few reasons that I think recommending movies/tv shows could be a bad idea
- They are fiction designed for entertainment rather than for accurately portraying interpersonal skills
- Situations in film tend to be contrived to be overly dramatic
- Resolutions are often portrayed much more simplistically than they would be in reality
So, the key question is:
Should we be recommending works created for entertainment (movies, tv shows, fiction books, etc...) as examples of good interpersonal skills in action?