Representation of race, ethnicity and colour

With the person next to you, how many racial stereotypes can you think of from The Simpsons?

Race representation

Representation of race in the media can consist of the same sort of rigid stereotypes that constitute gender portrayal.

Stereotyping of race is seen as more harmful than stereotyping of gender, as media representation may be the only experience of contact with a particular ethnic group that an audience may have (especially children and young people)

Racial stereotypes are often based on social myth perpetuated down the ages.

Race on UK TV

Race remains a hot issue on UK TV, because it’s always going to attract headlines!

Often linked with immigration and questions of national identity – what does it mean to be British in the 2010s?

Given that modern Britain is populated by a diverse range of people, do national media outlets represent different colours and ethnicities proportionally? Fairly?

Alvarado’s racial stereotypes (1978)Four key themes in racial representation:exotic dangerous humorous pitied

(Alvarado et al. 1987: 153)

Moral Panics

described as a condition, episode, person or group of persons which emerge to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests (Cohen, 1972, p.9).

1970s the image of the black mugger

1980s – image of rioter

1990s – gangsta, gun crimes etc

2000s – Media focus shifts to Muslims

Task:

Choose three characters on UK TV to write a brief summary of in regards to ethnicity – choose a genre from the 6 genres of TV dramas we have looked at eg. Teen drama, hospital drama, crime drama etc.

Consider how they are represented – positive? Negative? Stereotyped? Subverting stereotyped?