Television and Diversity

Quickwrite #3 Based on all of the readings we have done so far, do you think that the way the media and the entertainment industries represent (or fail to represent) minorities has real world consequences for real people in those groups? Why or why not? Feel free to respond to a specific quote from one of the readings if you would like.

What do we mean when we talk about “diversity” in the media? It might mean a discussion of how closely media products as a group reflect the diversity of the society that is producing them. It might mean a discussion of how a specific media product deals with the question of diversity. Are minority groups represented? If so, are they represented fairly, or as stereotypes?

Terms that are Relevant to the Discussion Diversity: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization (Meriam Webster Online Dictionary)variety – When the word is used to talk about different types of people, there is also a connotation of acceptance of and respect for those differences.

Terms that are Relevant to the Discussion Tokenism: the practice of doing something (such as hiring a person who belongs to a minority group) only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly (Meriam Webster Learner’s Dictionary) Marginalize: to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group (Meriam Webster Online Dictionary)

A few more words to know: Portray: verb (Noun form is “portrayal”) – 1 to make a picture of : depictdepict – 2 a : to describe in words – b : to play the role of – Miss Spitler’s note: This word often has the connotation of a fictional, not necessarily true representation. Depict: verb (Noun form is “depiction”) – 1: to represent by or as if by a picture – Miss Spitler’s Note: depict/depiction and portray/portrayal are often used interchangeably because they are synonyms. Problematic: – a : posing a problem : difficult to solve or decideproblem – b : not definite or settled : uncertain uncertain – c : open to question or debate : questionablequestionable

Let’s use all of these words in a sentence: Too often, Latinos are depicted as criminals, gardeners, or maids, and little else. This portrayal is problematic because there are many Latinos who do not fit these stereotypes. Producers and writers should make an effort to write characters and storylines that will put forward a more complex portrayal of the people in this community.

“TV Diversity: Whose Job is it Anyway?” What larger conversation is this article responding to? What specific show/event is the article responding to? In the first section of the essay, the author, Aydrea Walden, uses a strategy described in They Say, I Say. She lists common objections to further inclusion of minority characters (that’s the “they say” part), and then, she offers a counter-argument about why each of those objections doesn’t make sense. (That’s her “I say” part.) What did you think of the “they say” objections she cites? What did you think of her counter-arguments? Was she convincing?

The Effects of a Lack of Diversity In “TV Diversity: Whose Job is it Anyway,” Aydrea Walden claims the following: “The shortest possible answer to ‘does diversity on TV matter?’ is ‘yes.’ Repeatedly showing people images absolutely has an affect on the way they live their lives. It’s the basis for the advertising industry. By regularly marginalizing people of color on screen, it makes it easier for people to marginalize those same populations in real life.” What does she mean by this? What do you think of this criticism?

Portrayals of Women and LGBT People in the Media What is the “larger conversation” that each of these authors is a part of? What are some of the assumptions that these authors respond to? What are some of the “big claims” that each of these authors makes? Identify one “big claim” and be ready to talk about it and your reaction to it. How do these authors support those claims? Was their support convincing? What were your reactions to these articles? Did you find places where you agreed? Disagreed? A little of both? Why?

Group Discussion (if we have time) Share some of your responses to this question: “Make a brief list of your favorite television shows or films. How diverse are these pop culture products? How are characters who are from minority groups treated/characterized? Does this issue ever affect your decision to watch a film/show?” Discuss each others’ responses respectfully and be ready to report back on your discussion to the class.

Questions from They Say, I Say Chapter 2 1.What is the purpose of summarizing others’ material in your own writing? 2.How can you avoid a “list” summary? (And why do you need to avoid it?)

Questions from They Say, I Say 1.What is the purpose of summarizing others’ material in your own writing? – Fairly represent what an author says. – Prepare for your own response (focus on points that will be important for you). 2.How can you avoid a “list” summary? (And why do you need to do this?) 1.Summarize with regard to your own interests. 2.Avoid “says” or “discusses” to describe your sources points, using more interesting and accurate words instead.

Summarizing In Essay #1 In your first essay, you may find yourself summarizing an entire essay we read in class or a whole source you found yourself in a few lines. Make sure that after you summarize, you give credit. Example: According to the article “TV Diversity: Whose Job is it Anyway?” The people involved in making movies offer many reasons that there are fewer African Americans than one would expect being cast in mainstream roles. Many of these reasons, though, do not hold up to scrutiny (Walden). These weak excuses suggest that while we have made many advances towards racial equality, there is still work to be done.

How do I write about this issue? First of all, you’ve got to decide what you think about the big questions. – What do you think about how diverse the media being produced right now is? – Do you think that it’s enough to simply include actors/characters from minority groups in shows/, films, etc? If not, what else should be done? – Are there certain groups that you notice being portrayed

How do I write about this issue? Start paying attention. I know not all of us watch a lot of TV, but if you do, start noticing how diverse the characters you see are, or how diverse the musicians you listen to are, etc. Start doing some reading. It’s very difficult to know what you think about this issue until you know what the big debates are.

Some Questions that Will Help You on Essay #1 As you analyze the pieces of media that you have chosen in order to support a claim you are making about pop culture and diversity, ask yourself: – What are the main values that are being put forward as “correct” or “normal” by this piece of media? Are these values particular to any one group? Are there any groups whose values/ideas are poorly or unfairly represented?

Some Questions that Will Help You on Essay #1 Do you notice any patterns in the representation of diverse groups in the media you chose, or patterns in the representation of the one minority group you chose? If so, what do you think those patterns mean? Why are they important? Is there anything missing from the portrayals you are researching? Is there anything complicated that is made simple? Any subtle differences that are glossed over? What are the consequences of this over-simplification?

Where can I find sources? In this case, google is your friend. A lot of the most current writing about this issue hasn’t made it into the school databases yet. Searches that have been productive for me: – Diversity and the media – TV and diversity (or television and diversity) – If you wish to research a certain group, play around with combinations of the group name, and the words “diversity,” “media,” and “television” (or whatever medium you are researching. – If you wish to research a certain piece of pop culture, type in the name of the film/show/genre and “diversity” and see what you come up with. These same searches work with the school databases.

Tentative Topics for Essay 1 Based on our brainstorming, spend the rest of the class narrowing your topic. Be ready to tell me what your tentative topic is for essay 1. Give me as much detail as you can about the question you will be exploring. (You should go into all of our essays with a question you are researching/exploring, not a topic upon which you have already completely made up your mind.)