We have spent a great deal of this semester discussing the representation of African American individuals. From mestral plays, to slaves at auction, to individuals in non-violent protests during the Civil Rights movement, to more modern day representations in hip hop and pop culture (just to name a few). Recently I attending the screening of Miss Representation, a documentary film focused on the role of mainstream media in contributing to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. This film could have easily been about the under-representation of African Americans in positions of power and influence in America, for every one of their main points addressed this population as well. On the website a scrolling advertisement reads “You Can’t Be What You Can’t See”. This point was addressed in class discussion about the homogeneous nature of personalities and images that are presented in hip hop music about the roles of men, women, and African American men and women. When we are confronted with singular images and constructions of what it means to be black, to be male, to be female in main stream media, it is no wonder that Americans are struggling to be comfortable with their own unique identities.
Another point that hit home for me in this film was the discussion of the co modification of women. Similar to the process we discussed concerning the co modification of slaves, women are often treated as objects in main stream media. There is a profound lack of media literacy within this society and while there are clearly other pressing problems, this is not a bad way to start. It is becoming more and more important everyday that young and impressionable groups of people are able to see many different representations and embodiments of femininity, masculinity, ethnicity, and sexual orientation among other characteristics of diversity.
This film explicitly illustrated the effect the media has on a woman’s ability to see herself in a leadership position. This reminded me of the women interviewed in the film “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” who were perpetuating the stereotypes of bi***es and hoes as described with the lyrics of popular hip hop music. I think the same mind set and phenomenon could apply to many African American individuals who also do not have anywhere near enough representation of powerful (African American) individuals present in main stream media.
It is crucial to the health of our society that we understand how the media and the behind the scenes decisions affect to way specifically gender and race are represented in the media and how this impacts our culture. In many cases the media communicates and teaches stereotypes that only perpetuate the problem.
I agree with your opinion in this post.I think the media plays a major role in how not only African Americans, but every race is represented. They display and fuel only what the public responds to the most because at the end of the day, the money is the main motive. It's sad but true because they don't realize the titanic effect they have on modern-day culture. They very seldom emphasize uniqueness and individuality because it does not sell to the people that have normalized conformity.
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