Race and Representation Race and Representation in the Mediain the Media

Marla Guloien Marla Guloien

Priscilla FazakasPriscilla Fazakas

Amy SoAmy So

Mass Media on Influences and Mass Media on Influences and SocietySociety

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv4_YMl9k0w v=Qv4_YMl9k0w

Outline For TodayOutline For TodayMM

• Key Terms and Questions to ConsiderKey Terms and Questions to Consider• Brief Look at History Brief Look at History

– Race Representations and the Historical FrameworkRace Representations and the Historical Framework• Key Concepts & Overarching Themes Key Concepts & Overarching Themes

• Context: ArticlesContext: Articles Edward Said, Stuart Hall, Robert Entman and Andrew Edward Said, Stuart Hall, Robert Entman and Andrew

Rojecki, Henry Tator Mattis Rees, Yasmin Jiwani.Rojecki, Henry Tator Mattis Rees, Yasmin Jiwani.

• ImplicationsImplications• InterpretationsInterpretations• ActivityActivity• DiscussionDiscussion• Obama’s Inaguration SpeechObama’s Inaguration Speech• ConclusionsConclusions

Key TermsKey Terms & Themes& ThemesMM

• Cultural hegemonyCultural hegemony

• Naturalization Naturalization

• White IdeologyWhite Ideology

• OrientalismOrientalism

• Social hierarchy Social hierarchy

• Overt racism and inferential racismOvert racism and inferential racism

• Stereotypes and Caricatures Stereotypes and Caricatures

• Social Narratives Social Narratives

How Does Media Construct How Does Media Construct Race?Race?

Some Key Questions to think Some Key Questions to think about:about:• How is race framed and constructed How is race framed and constructed

through social relations in media?through social relations in media?• Throughout media history, can you Throughout media history, can you

discuss the how racial discuss the how racial representations have changed since representations have changed since the twenties to now? the twenties to now?

• How did you think racial How did you think racial representations could change representations could change because of Obama’s presidency?because of Obama’s presidency?

HistoryHistoryMM

• 1717thth Century to Now Century to Now• An important point to make from the outset An important point to make from the outset

is that to be misrepresented in the media, is that to be misrepresented in the media, one must be considered to be a person. one must be considered to be a person.

• For so long, minorities were not considered For so long, minorities were not considered to be people under the constitution. to be people under the constitution.

• Racism was overt, everyday and individual. Racism was overt, everyday and individual. • Racial hierarchy was also internalized by Racial hierarchy was also internalized by

most people in society.most people in society.

HistoryHistoryMM

• The influence of British and French colonialism The influence of British and French colonialism impacted the history of US colonialism. impacted the history of US colonialism.

• Imaginative and intellectual territory was where Imaginative and intellectual territory was where the discourse produced representations the discourse produced representations – that sustained racial hierarchiesthat sustained racial hierarchies– stereotypes and beliefs, attitudes and values that were stereotypes and beliefs, attitudes and values that were

innately racist and distributed through various media innately racist and distributed through various media formsforms• Movies, ads, print media, political discourseMovies, ads, print media, political discourse

• Discourse enables the socio-economic and Discourse enables the socio-economic and political institutions durability and power. political institutions durability and power.

• The Orient grew out of a sovereign Western The Orient grew out of a sovereign Western consciousness consciousness – First lead to ideas about oriental, but became a First lead to ideas about oriental, but became a detailed detailed

logic that governed desires and repressions, logic that governed desires and repressions, investments and projections. investments and projections.

HistoryHistory• Racism happens within a social, cultural, political and Racism happens within a social, cultural, political and

historical context.historical context.

• What is happening in the bigger picture of politics, culture What is happening in the bigger picture of politics, culture within a country and now globally, affects the ways in which within a country and now globally, affects the ways in which racism is presented and constructed.racism is presented and constructed.

• Classified X Pt.1 http://ca.youtube.com/watch?Classified X Pt.1 http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=EUDDPkcCfQE v=EUDDPkcCfQE

• It is inextricably linked to the perpetual, systematic racism It is inextricably linked to the perpetual, systematic racism that permeates our lives through the media. that permeates our lives through the media.

• The historical context of the political, social, cultural and The historical context of the political, social, cultural and economic atmosphere in which the media operates is economic atmosphere in which the media operates is subject to the beliefs, attitudes and values that subject to the beliefs, attitudes and values that consequently exist. consequently exist.

Key Concepts From The Key Concepts From The ReadingsReadings

PP•OrientalismOrientalism

– Edward SaidEdward Said• Said introduced the theme of Orientalism.Said introduced the theme of Orientalism.

• The Orient is The Orient is an idea constructed with history, an idea constructed with history, tradition of thought, imagery, vocabularytradition of thought, imagery, vocabulary that gave that gave orientalism reality and presence in the West. orientalism reality and presence in the West.

• The West was The West was defined againstdefined against the Orient as the the Orient as the Other. Other.

• A A system of knowledgesystem of knowledge was constructed to represent was constructed to represent Orientals, and the West.Orientals, and the West.

• Edward Said on OrientalismEdward Said on Orientalism– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwCOSkXR_Cwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwCOSkXR_Cw

Stuart HallStuart HallThe Whites of Their EyesThe Whites of Their Eyes PP

• Media represents and interprets the Media represents and interprets the ideologies in a particular way which, through ideologies in a particular way which, through the use of language, image, message, the the use of language, image, message, the media constructs ideological narratives about media constructs ideological narratives about race. race.

• The Media produces representations of the The Media produces representations of the world, image, descriptions, explanations and world, image, descriptions, explanations and frames for understanding the way the world frames for understanding the way the world is and why it work as it does. is and why it work as it does.

• Media constructs what the definition of race Media constructs what the definition of race is and the “problem of race”.is and the “problem of race”.

ContinuedContinuedPP

• Ideology does not consist of isolated or Ideology does not consist of isolated or separate concepts, but articulates a chain of separate concepts, but articulates a chain of meaning.meaning.

• Social practice and political struggle serve to Social practice and political struggle serve to define ideologies and naturalize a social define ideologies and naturalize a social consciousness. consciousness.

• Overt RacismOvert Racism– Favourable coverage given to arguments or Favourable coverage given to arguments or

positions who elaborate a racism policy or view.positions who elaborate a racism policy or view.• Inferential Racism Inferential Racism

– A naturalized representation of events relating to A naturalized representation of events relating to race that provides unquestioned assumptions.race that provides unquestioned assumptions.

R. Entman and A. RajekiR. Entman and A. RajekiCulture, Media and the White Culture, Media and the White

MindMind• Racial thinking is deeply embedded in the media Racial thinking is deeply embedded in the media

and the mind’s eye.and the mind’s eye.• Racism and animosity is more widespread than Racism and animosity is more widespread than

immediately apparent. immediately apparent. – "White people create the dominant images of the world, "White people create the dominant images of the world,

and don’t quite see that they thus construct the world in and don’t quite see that they thus construct the world in their image."their image."

-Richard Dyer-Richard Dyer• Abnormal becomes anything opposite of the ideal Abnormal becomes anything opposite of the ideal

traits (White)traits (White)– Social HierarchySocial Hierarchy– Racism and Stereotypes Racism and Stereotypes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKYw0tKw6D4 v=xKYw0tKw6D4

ContinuedContinuedPP

• We think within the frames that we see on TV.We think within the frames that we see on TV.• Media is a cultural source of habitMedia is a cultural source of habit• Racial discrimination can be constructed by the Racial discrimination can be constructed by the

media focussing issues that minorities have no media focussing issues that minorities have no control overcontrol over– Physical traitsPhysical traits

• Skin colour, hair, body typesSkin colour, hair, body types

• Events on the news, in the movies, in magazines Events on the news, in the movies, in magazines and books:and books:– Social relations as well as stereotypes are shaped and Social relations as well as stereotypes are shaped and

constructed through the images.constructed through the images.– Watching the frame allows one to reaffirm expectations Watching the frame allows one to reaffirm expectations

(i.e. Gang wars, stereotypes)(i.e. Gang wars, stereotypes)

Some ImplicationsSome ImplicationsPP

• ColourblindnessColourblindness• Whites deny that racial discrimination still Whites deny that racial discrimination still

exists exists – In part because of the lack of reportsIn part because of the lack of reports– Affirmative action plans are in placeAffirmative action plans are in place

10 Most Racism Moments in the Media10 Most Racism Moments in the Media– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS953cH2TXM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS953cH2TXM

• Superficial multiculturalismSuperficial multiculturalism

F. HenryF. HenryRacism in the MediaRacism in the MediaAA

• Newspapers and TV depict minorities Newspapers and TV depict minorities as villainsas villains– Caricatures from colonial pasts and Caricatures from colonial pasts and

foreign identitiesforeign identities– Hassling policeHassling police– Marginalize people of colourMarginalize people of colour– Racialization of crime Racialization of crime – Stereotyping eventually and directly Stereotyping eventually and directly

influences popular opinioninfluences popular opinion

ContinuedContinuedAA

• Mass media is a source of beliefs and Mass media is a source of beliefs and values of how we see the worldvalues of how we see the world

• People of colour are not placed as much in the news People of colour are not placed as much in the news or in advertising or in programming or in advertising or in programming

• Racialization of people of colour occurs when they Racialization of people of colour occurs when they are presented as social problemsare presented as social problems

• Reproduction of white values, norms and imagesReproduction of white values, norms and images

• Biases attitudes and practices of media professionalsBiases attitudes and practices of media professionals

• Portrayal of Black Women Portrayal of Black Women http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FMFnw9fgC0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FMFnw9fgC0