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Ethnicity, Racism and Ethnicity, Racism and stereotypesstereotypes
Stereotypical images?Stereotypical images?
Representation of ethnic minoritiesRepresentation of ethnic minorities
Minority ethnics are greatly Minority ethnics are greatly under-represented in the mediaunder-represented in the media
There are few people of colour There are few people of colour in top media positions and few in top media positions and few programmes are aimed at programmes are aimed at minority ethnicsminority ethnics
The GUMG has shown how The GUMG has shown how news and current affairs news and current affairs programmes are essentially programmes are essentially nationalisticnationalistic
Developing countries are Developing countries are presented as problems so that presented as problems so that disasters such as war or famine disasters such as war or famine are associated with themare associated with them
From a Marxist point of view, From a Marxist point of view, such portrayals reinforce the such portrayals reinforce the capitalist system by showing capitalist system by showing the superiority of white, the superiority of white, western culturewestern culture
Until recent years, blacks have Until recent years, blacks have been portrayed as servants, been portrayed as servants, figures of fun or slavesfigures of fun or slaves
Hartman and Husband argue Hartman and Husband argue that the media still operates that the media still operates within a culture that sees within a culture that sees foreigners, especially blacks foreigners, especially blacks as inferioras inferior
When black people are When black people are positively represented this is positively represented this is seen as “tokenism”seen as “tokenism”
Negative portrayalsNegative portrayals Van Djilks (1991) studied the Van Djilks (1991) studied the
inner city riots of the 1980s inner city riots of the 1980s And showed how the tabloid And showed how the tabloid
press focused on a racial and press focused on a racial and criminal explanation of the riotscriminal explanation of the riots
However many young white However many young white people were involvedpeople were involved
The Sun dismissed The Sun dismissed Sociological explanations of Sociological explanations of the riots as “making excuses the riots as “making excuses for criminals”for criminals”
Van Djilks analysed the Van Djilks analysed the meanings and ideology behind meanings and ideology behind these portrayalsthese portrayals
He says the British media He says the British media constantly flatters its readers constantly flatters its readers with statements likewith statements like
““The British are a kind and The British are a kind and tolerant people” always tolerant people” always followed by the racist “but”followed by the racist “but”
Then minority ethnics are Then minority ethnics are accused of abusing our accused of abusing our hospitalityhospitality
Being social security Being social security scroungers, bogus asylum scroungers, bogus asylum seekers and terrorist seekers and terrorist sympathiserssympathisers
Supporting ResearchSupporting Research
Look at the review of the work of Stuart Hall (page 193 in Look at the review of the work of Stuart Hall (page 193 in the text book)the text book)
What role did the media play here?What role did the media play here? How does this link with portrayal of “the other”? How does this link with portrayal of “the other”? Which perspective does Hall come from?Which perspective does Hall come from? Take notes on the work of Back (2002)Take notes on the work of Back (2002)
Appreciation of Black cultureAppreciation of Black culture Appreciation of black culture has Appreciation of black culture has
growngrown There are now major figures in There are now major figures in
music, the Arts and the media in music, the Arts and the media in generalgeneral
There are more programmes There are more programmes specifically for minority ethnicsspecifically for minority ethnics
More importantly there has been a More importantly there has been a crossover of ethnic minority crossover of ethnic minority culture into mainstream mediaculture into mainstream media
Programmes such as the Kumars Programmes such as the Kumars at no 42 are appealing to White at no 42 are appealing to White and Asian viewersand Asian viewers
This demonstrates a more multi This demonstrates a more multi cultural media in the 21cultural media in the 21stst century century
ResearchResearch Abercrombie(1996) argues that Abercrombie(1996) argues that
these positive changes are these positive changes are most apparent in soap operasmost apparent in soap operas
Minority ethnics are now Minority ethnics are now depicted in far less depicted in far less stereotypical ways than in the stereotypical ways than in the past,past,
As ordinary people rather than As ordinary people rather than exotic or dangerous othersexotic or dangerous others
However Reid found that black However Reid found that black women were heavily critical of women were heavily critical of The Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show
Because its depiction of black Because its depiction of black family life was idealised and family life was idealised and unrealistic unrealistic
Sociological ApproachesSociological Approaches Functionalists would argue that media presentations of ethnic minorities Functionalists would argue that media presentations of ethnic minorities
reflect their position in societyreflect their position in society These depictions change to reflect the integration of ethnic minorities These depictions change to reflect the integration of ethnic minorities
into mainstream cultureinto mainstream culture Examples would be the positive portrayal of successful Asian Examples would be the positive portrayal of successful Asian
businessmen or Black medical professionalsbusinessmen or Black medical professionals Marxists and Neo-Marxists see things very differentlyMarxists and Neo-Marxists see things very differently They emphasise how the media uses racism to promote the interests of They emphasise how the media uses racism to promote the interests of
the powerfulthe powerful Moral panics about immigrants and asylum seekers help to divide the Moral panics about immigrants and asylum seekers help to divide the
working class on racial grounds and produce false consciousnessworking class on racial grounds and produce false consciousness The blame for social problems such as unemployment and crime is The blame for social problems such as unemployment and crime is
focused on minority ethnics rather than the real causes – capitalism and focused on minority ethnics rather than the real causes – capitalism and the injustices it causesthe injustices it causes