***Spike Lee film***
We watched the movie Bamboozled which did a good job of blasting the stereotypes in the audience's face. I did not like this movie because it made me upset. I understand what Spike Lee was trying to do when he made the film, but the way he portrayed it made me feel uncomfortable and anxious. Being a child of the '80s, I was brought up to ignore people's skintones and never bring up stereotypes. The way that Spike Lee shoved it in your face was inappropriate, in my opinion.
<3
Monday, May 10, 2010
Post for Week 6: RG & Media
***Tough Guise***
This video was one of my favorites because it exposed men for what they really are. Society puts the pressure on men in that they must always be "tough" and "strong" and never show their emotions. Underneath that "Tough Guise" they are just as sensitive as women are and aren't "allowed" to let it get to them.
I knew they weren't made of stone, but I never realized the incredible pressure that men are under to be manly. And now, with more sex shown in the media, men are under pressure to build themselves into a model body. Perhaps there isn't much difference between us after all. :)
This video was one of my favorites because it exposed men for what they really are. Society puts the pressure on men in that they must always be "tough" and "strong" and never show their emotions. Underneath that "Tough Guise" they are just as sensitive as women are and aren't "allowed" to let it get to them.
I knew they weren't made of stone, but I never realized the incredible pressure that men are under to be manly. And now, with more sex shown in the media, men are under pressure to build themselves into a model body. Perhaps there isn't much difference between us after all. :)
Post for Week 5: RG & the Media
*** The Black Press***
The film Soldiers without Swords sparked some thoughts in my mind. I knew that African Americans had experienced a lot of hardships after the Emancipation Proclamation when trying to become journalists, but I didn't realize the actual struggles.
The had to fight a hegemonic society in trying to make a publication and trying to learn how to write. This is something that we all take for granted now and it really opened my eyes to the history of journalism. We have really come a long way in making the journalism playing field more equal for those who have a voice.
The film Soldiers without Swords sparked some thoughts in my mind. I knew that African Americans had experienced a lot of hardships after the Emancipation Proclamation when trying to become journalists, but I didn't realize the actual struggles.
The had to fight a hegemonic society in trying to make a publication and trying to learn how to write. This is something that we all take for granted now and it really opened my eyes to the history of journalism. We have really come a long way in making the journalism playing field more equal for those who have a voice.
Post for Week 4: RG in the Media
***More thoughts on Symbolic annihilation***
As far as we all think we have come in eliminating racism from the media, there is a concept that many people forget about. The absence of a race or type of person can symbolically annihilate that group from existing.
For example, Native Americans are rarely, if ever, shown in television shows or films. If they are shown, then they are more than likely a stereotype. Hispanics are portrayed in the same way in commercials and television shows.
Another example is homeless people or the disabled. This concept needs to be recognized by all media so that we can move forward from the racism, rather than remaining stagnant.
As far as we all think we have come in eliminating racism from the media, there is a concept that many people forget about. The absence of a race or type of person can symbolically annihilate that group from existing.
For example, Native Americans are rarely, if ever, shown in television shows or films. If they are shown, then they are more than likely a stereotype. Hispanics are portrayed in the same way in commercials and television shows.
Another example is homeless people or the disabled. This concept needs to be recognized by all media so that we can move forward from the racism, rather than remaining stagnant.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Underrepresented DAY!
**This post is for Race Gender and Media Class**
In class, we discussed how men are discussed in the media within symbolic annihilation.
The reading was about native american team mascots. The argument really isn't about sports, it's about race. There are more than 80 schools that have them as mascots, but were adopted because of local history. The author of the article said that white europeans established some of these mascots based on stereotypes.
I liked the "Fighting Whities" slogan, "Everythings gonna be all White"
You never hear about homeless people unless they are stereotyped. They fall victim to a lot of crime and disease. I found it shocking that half of the homeless people in America are women with children. The media looks at them as something to laugh at -- uneducated and low class.
In class, we discussed how men are discussed in the media within symbolic annihilation.
The reading was about native american team mascots. The argument really isn't about sports, it's about race. There are more than 80 schools that have them as mascots, but were adopted because of local history. The author of the article said that white europeans established some of these mascots based on stereotypes.
I liked the "Fighting Whities" slogan, "Everythings gonna be all White"
You never hear about homeless people unless they are stereotyped. They fall victim to a lot of crime and disease. I found it shocking that half of the homeless people in America are women with children. The media looks at them as something to laugh at -- uneducated and low class.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Gay Day
***For Race/Gender/Media***
I thought it was interesting how the video brought up the journey of gays and lesbians into the mainstream media.
Gay men used to be presented only if it had to do with HIV or AIDS. This is something you hardly see now. It has been replaced by gay parenting situations.
The presentation of GLBT people is a little reliant on stereotypes and sometimes it is sensitive to differences for people from different backgrounds.
I also thought it was interesting that even though Viacom launched LOGO in 2009 to create a gay niche, transgendered characters are still being symbolically annihilated.
I thought it was interesting how the video brought up the journey of gays and lesbians into the mainstream media.
Gay men used to be presented only if it had to do with HIV or AIDS. This is something you hardly see now. It has been replaced by gay parenting situations.
The presentation of GLBT people is a little reliant on stereotypes and sometimes it is sensitive to differences for people from different backgrounds.
I also thought it was interesting that even though Viacom launched LOGO in 2009 to create a gay niche, transgendered characters are still being symbolically annihilated.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
RACE GENDER MEDIA Post 3
Last class was quite interesting.
Tracy showed us a video that brought up the ideas of stereotypes in the media. I can't help but wonder where some of these stereotypes came from.
The movie raised the question, "Do you think that the media could function without the use of stereotypes?" And I have a feeling like at this point in time, it cannot. The stereotypes have become what is customary, or orthodox. For instance, a woman is not typically in charge of a company, and that reflects in what people view in the media. Native Americans are a small portion of the population, and in turn, are practically nonexistant in the media.
As much as we hate to admit it, this is how many people view the world.
If we were to watch a TV sitcom, and the "token gay guy" wasn't flamboyant, we might get confused and assume he was not gay at all.
In order to create characters, who are memorable and fit the norm, the media uses stereotypes.
Ex: The token black guy may have grown up in a poor neighborhood, but has risen to new heights, despite his past, or the Hispanic woman almost always has an accent and is portrayed either as a sexy vixen or a cleaning lady.
The asian boy is always smart and quiet while the protagonist, is almost always a white male.
Yes, this is how many people view the world right now, but maybe it's because the media has drilled it into our heads of "this is how the world is supposed to be."
These stereotypes represent a small miniority of that ethnicity, but maybe these stigmas will not go away in the media until that small minority completely dissappears, but unfortunately, that may take a long time.
Tracy showed us a video that brought up the ideas of stereotypes in the media. I can't help but wonder where some of these stereotypes came from.
The movie raised the question, "Do you think that the media could function without the use of stereotypes?" And I have a feeling like at this point in time, it cannot. The stereotypes have become what is customary, or orthodox. For instance, a woman is not typically in charge of a company, and that reflects in what people view in the media. Native Americans are a small portion of the population, and in turn, are practically nonexistant in the media.
As much as we hate to admit it, this is how many people view the world.
If we were to watch a TV sitcom, and the "token gay guy" wasn't flamboyant, we might get confused and assume he was not gay at all.
In order to create characters, who are memorable and fit the norm, the media uses stereotypes.
Ex: The token black guy may have grown up in a poor neighborhood, but has risen to new heights, despite his past, or the Hispanic woman almost always has an accent and is portrayed either as a sexy vixen or a cleaning lady.
The asian boy is always smart and quiet while the protagonist, is almost always a white male.
Yes, this is how many people view the world right now, but maybe it's because the media has drilled it into our heads of "this is how the world is supposed to be."
These stereotypes represent a small miniority of that ethnicity, but maybe these stigmas will not go away in the media until that small minority completely dissappears, but unfortunately, that may take a long time.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
