G322 Exam - Representation of ethnicity in the media
- 1. LEARNING OUTCOMES – BY THE END OF THIS SESSION YOU WILL BE ABLE TO: 1) Describe the difference between ETHNICITY and RACE 2) Identify issues surrounding the stereotyping of ethnic minority groups in the media 3) Give at least three examples of media texts that offer a dominant and alternative representation of ethnicity in the media 4) Explain what ‘tokenism’ is and why it is problematic, giving at least two examples
- 2. Which ethnicity do you see? Can you recall the last time you saw a sikh represented in the media? Do you think sikhs are often represented POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY in the media?
- 3. Which ethnicity do you see? When was the last time you recall seeing this ethnicity represented in the media? Do you think Romany gypsies are often represented POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY?
- 4. Which ethnicity do you see? When was the last time you recall seeing this ethnicity represented in the media? Do you think people of mixed race are often represented POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY?
- 5. Which ethnicity do you see? When was the last time you recall seeing this ethnicity represented in the media? Do you think Chinese people are often represented POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY?
- 6. Which ethnicity do you see? When was the last time you recall seeing this ethnicity represented in the media? Do you think Muslims are often represented POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY?
- 7. When examining ethnicity we need to consider: Who is being represented How our understanding other ethnicities is formed by media representations How representations evolve over time, but are based on historical background, for example, the impact of the slave trade on contemporary representations of black Africa characters The impact of stereotypes on different sectors of the audience REPRESENTATION OF ETHNICITY
- 8. What is the difference between ETHNICITY and RACE? Your ethnicity refers to your CULTURAL IDENTITY. This could be shown by: Your RACE is defined by the fact that you descend from a common ancestor giving you a clear set of racial characteristics, e.g. your skin colour or facial features
- 9. How did people from other cultures used to be portrayed in the British media? Often ‘foreignness’ was emphasised - and laughed at. This type of comedy is no longer accepted on British television.
- 10. Representation in the 1970s: TV shows like Love Thy Neighbour and Til Death Us Do Part dealt with the issue of the increase in immigration. The Fast Show: Channel 9 Why do you think this sketch was criticized? Goodness Gracious Me Who are we laughing at?
- 11. In the media today… Evidence suggests that despite some progress, ethnic minorities are generally under-represented or are represented in stereotyped and negative ways across a range of media content.
- 12. Activity 2: Representation of ethnic minorities is, by and large, based on stereotypes. (In pairs, 3 mins) Can you think of recent examples of media texts that offer stereotypical portrayals of black culture? WHY do you think such stereotypes (a) are created and (b) continue?
- 13. In his study, Alvarado (1987) identified the following stereotypes: Exotic Dangerous Humorous Pitied ALVARADO’S THEORY (1987)
- 14. Representation of Ethnicity –TV Drama: extract: Top Boy season 1 ep 1. (2011) Channel 4 Top Boy 2011 (season 1 ep 1) Channel 4 Watch the next section of Series 1 Episode 1 of ‘Top Boy’ (4oD, available on Youtube). Deconstruct the codes used to create the representations (audio, visual, technical) How is the representation constructed? Link this to theory. (Alvarado) – dangerous/pitied Consider audience. Why is this representation constructed?
- 15. RECAP: LEARNING OUTCOMES – BY THE END OF THIS SESSION YOU WILL BE ABLE TO: 1) Describe the difference between ETHNICITY and RACE 2) Identify issues surrounding the stereotyping of ethnic minority groups in the media 3) Give at least three examples of media texts that offer a dominant and alternative representation of ethnicity in the media 4) Explain what ‘tokenism’ is and why it is problematic, giving at least two examples
- 16. •Technial/visual: Establishing crane shot: Showing where these characters are growing up (Hackney, London). The council estate informs the audience there are many people crammed into one space, connoting poverty and the struggle for life the characters face. • The location helps to inform the genre - gritty urban realism. • This analysis also reinforces Alvarado’s Theory of dangerous/pitied (1987). The characters are victims of their environment.
- 17. In “Top Boy (2011)”, Dushane and Sully represent black people to be ’dangerous’ as they are associated with gangs, violence and drug-use. But, Ra’nell represents the ‘pity’ category as he is left to provide for himself as his mother is taken into a mental hospital. •This reinforces Dyers (1992) utopia of intensity, audiences are unlikely to have guns pointed in their faces and this text gives them the intensity missing from their everyday lives. The iconography of the gun connoting danger/death/violence/ power is further reinforced by the character looking down the barrel of it, this not only reinforces the guns iconographic signifiers but also Alvarado’s Theory of the dangerous (1987) and Earp and Katz’s (1999) theory of violent males.
- 18. How are the representations constructed? E.g. visual and technical codes Is Four Lions funny? If so, what kinds of comedy does it explore? If it isn’t funny what stops you laughing? How might the representation affect the audience? Think about oppositional readings of the text Does it create a positive/negative/stereotypi cal representation of ethnic minorities? REPRESENTATION OF ETHNICITY: FOUR LIONS (2010) CHRIS MORRIS Four Lions is a controversial, low budget British black comedy, which deals with issues of ethnicity and identity in contemporary multi- cultural Britain. Four Lions directed by Chris Morris, is a comedy about ‘wannabe-terrorists’ in Britain. Omar, Waj, Barry, Faisal and Hassan are brought together to portray their relationship with extremism in the Muslim faith. Four Lions Trailer 2010
- 19. Tokenism is a form of under- representation. Minority groups are represented but at a minimum ‘token’ level or not at all ‘Token’ characters often have a reduced role or capacity in comparison to characters who fit with the dominant group. Creates an illusion of equal representation TOKENISM
- 20. Tokenism is a problem because: 1. When tokenism is used, the minority group that are represented have no real power. 2. The ‘difference’ of the minority group from the ‘norm’ becomes a central issue in the text. 3. Tokenism can also reinforce stereotypes. .. . …For example, soap operas have conventionally focused on stereotypical aspects of ethnic culture.