Representation of Ethnicity

REPRESENTATI ON
NATION AND ETHNICITY

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates.
Definitions:
Ethnicity: (n) a term which represents social groups with a
shared history, sense of identity, geography and cultural roots which may occur despite racial differences
Race: (n) a human population considered distinct based on

physical characteristics
Nation: (n) a relatively large group of people organized

under a single, usually independent government; a country; a people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language; a nationality
Lets start by thinking about Britishness How does British link to ethnicity? Race? Nation?
List some stereotypes attached to the ideas of Britishness. Can you link these to any representations in the media?
Lets start by thinking about Britishness

Watch the following clip and work through the four parts of the Constructionist Approach to say how Britain is represented... http://youtu.be/s6d-DbJ_4dM
1. The person/place being represented: Hint: Analyse one or two of the settings in the clip based on where they are set and when they are set. 2. The opinions of those encoding the representation: Hint: What have the directors/editors done to represent Britain what point are the making? 3. The reaction of the target audience: Hint: Who are the target audience and what will the preferred reading of this article be? 4. The context of our society & dominant ideologies: Hint: What is the general consensus about Britain today, and how does this representation relate to it?
British Stereotypes #1 Hugh Grant

In films, Hugh Grant is often supposed to represent the typical English gent. His character stereotypes Brits as posh, awkward and at odds with his emotions.
Appearance: His floppy hair and open necked shirt gives him the look of a privately educated toff , someone who is not so interested in his appearance or has little idea of style. His smile emphasises his downward eyes, which imply a self deprecation to his humour.
Can you think of any other texts where Brits are represented as bumbling, clumsy, out of touch with their emotions or posh?
Behaviour: Hugh Grants characters are often bumbling fools who fall in love but dont know how to express their true feelings. He is well spoken and often plays an unmarried bachelor Grants real life echoes that of the characters he portrays.
British Stereotype #2: Brits Abroad Ad Your Turn!

http://youtu.be/GQGxZYW2KL0
How has the representation of Britain has been mediated by each stage of the process?
Think about: Selection Construction Focus
Constructionist approach a reminder:

The thing itself / the opinion of the encoder / reading and response of audience / context of society within which the representation takes place
British Archetypes: Frank Gallagher

An archetype is similar to a stereotype but is usually derogatory or negative. Rather than trying to create an ideology about a group of people they are used as a shortcut to help an audience quickly understand what their role in the text is. They are used in fictional texts such as TV, film or Video Games to represent a specific type of character within a specific genre. Certain groups in society often fulfil certain archetypes in media texts.
Frank Gallagher from TV Comedy Drama Shameless is an archetypal British slob. He is represented as the father of a large dysfunctional family. He lives on an urban council estate which is full of crime and anti-social behaviour. Franks representation of Britain is negative in many aspects. Frank is a lazy drunk who exploits his own children to get the money to buy more drink and drugs. Whenever he attempts to make the right choice by his family it is often met by failure. He has a thick regional accent that makes him unmistakably British, and often rants about British historical events and figures as great, bemoaning the state of the country today. Ironically unaware that he is a part of the problem he is criticising.
British Archetypes Your Turn!

http://youtu.be/JoEsPFe7tWo Watch the sketch from the comedy sketch show: The Armstrong & Miller Show. The humour in the sketch is derived from each actor portraying characters that represent two different British archetypes.
What are the two archetypes of Britishness being mocked in this sketch? What things from the sketch are typical of these archetypes?
What is a popular representation of Britain at the moment? Which other texts promote this view of Britain? Is this a moral panic?

What do all these representations have in common? What is the dominant representation of ethnicity in Britain?
Ethnic minority: an immigrant or racial group regarded by those claiming to speak for the cultural majority as distinct and unassimilated
(hegemonic ideology)
Many sociologists believe that media representations of ethnic minority groups are problematic because they contribute to the reinforcement of negative racist stereotypes. Media representations of ethnic minorities may be undermining the concept of a tolerant multicultural society and perpetuating social divisions based on colour, ethnicity and religion.
Multi-cultural Britain:
More than 4.6 million people in Britain are from an ethnic minority background
(About 13% of the total population)

Over half of these people are from Asian backgrounds. One quarter are black. 5.3% are Chinese, and the rest are from other ethnic backgrounds.
Multi-cultural Britain:
40 million people characterise themselves as white-Christian
815,000 black Christians 353,000 mixed race Christians

Second largest religion is Islam 685,000 Pakistani Muslims; 261,000 Bangladeshi Muslims 471,000 Indian Hindus 307,000 Indian Sikhs 259,000 white Jews
45% of ethnic minorities live in London
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. Evidence suggests that, despite some progress, ethnic minorities are generally under-
represented or are represented in stereotyped and negative ways across a

range of media content. In particular,
newspapers and television news have a

tendency to present ethnic minorities as a problem or to associate Black people with physical rather than intellectual activities and to neglect, and even ignore, racism and the inequalities that result from it. How many TV programmes can you list that focus on a main character of an ethnic minority background? Do you think that the British population is being represented realistically or fairly?
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. Despite Britains multicultural nature, and the inevitable effect on representations, its dominant ideology is still a white, western one. Anything non-white is constructed in terms of otherness (binary
opposition = them vs us).

When considering ethnicity in media texts (especially TV dramas) you should remember that the majority of programme makers are white (and male) so the representations of minority groups have been constructed from an
outside perspective (usually of ignorance) and rarely from an inside

perspective (of personal experience). Representations of the dominant
white culture, however, are part of their own identity and experience.
How might this impact on the representations of minority groups?
Focus on typical ideologies about ethnic minorities

Akinti (2003) argues that television coverage of ethnic minorities over focuses on crime, AIDS in Africa and Black childrens under-achievement in schools, whilst ignoring the culture and interests of a huge Black audience and their rich contribution to British society. Akinti claims that news about Black communities always seems to be bad news. Van Dijks (1991) content analysis of tens of thousands of news items across the world over several decades confirms that news representations of Black people can be categorised into several types of stereotypically negative news.
As criminals Black
crime is the most frequent issue found in media news coverage of ethnic minorities. Van Dijk found that Black people, particularly AfricanCaribbeans, tend to be portrayed as criminals, especially in the tabloid press and more recently as members of organised gangs that push drugs and violently defend urban territories.
Ethnic minorities and moral panics

Watson (2008) notes that moral panics often result from media stereotyping of Black people as potentially criminal. This effect was first brought to sociological attention by Halls classic study of a 1970s moral panic that was constructed around the folk devil of the Black mugger. Further moral panics have developed around rap music, e.g. in 2003, gangsta rap lyrics came under attack for contributing to an increase in gun crime.
As a threat ethnic minorities are often portrayed as a threat to the

majority White culture. It is suggested by some media that immigrants and asylum seekers are only interested in living in Britain because they wish to take fraudulent advantage of Britains generous welfare state. Poole (2000), pre 9/11, argued that Islam has always been demonised and distorted by the Western media. It has traditionally been portrayed as a threat to Western interests. Representations of Islam have been predominantly negative and Muslims have been stereotyped as backward, extremist, fundamentalist and misogynist.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As dependent news stories about less developed countries tend to focus on a coupwar-famine-starvation syndrome. Often such stories imply that the causes of the problems experienced by developing countries are self-inflicted that they are the result of stupidity, tribal conflict, too many babies, laziness, corruption and unstable political regimes. External causes such as colonialism, tied aid, transnational exploitation and the unfair terms of world trade are rarely discussed by the British media.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As
abnormal the cultural practices of
ethnic minorities are often called into question and labelled as deviant or abnormal. Many Asian people believe that the media treatment of arranged marriages was often inaccurate and did not reflect the way that the system had changed over time. Ameli et al. (2007) note that media discussion around the issue of the wearing of the hijab and the veil is also problematic, often suggesting that it is somehow an inferior form of dress compared with Western female dress codes and that it is unnecessary and problematic. It is often portrayed as a patriarchal and oppressive form of control that exemplifies the misogyny of Islam and symbolises the alleged subordinate position of women in Islam.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As unimportant Van Dijk notes that some sections of the media imply that the lives of White people are somehow more important than the lives of non-White people. News items about disasters in developing countries are often restricted to a few lines or words unless there are also White or British victims. Moreover, Sir Ian Blair, the former Metropolitan police commissioner, claimed that institutionalised racism was present in the British media in the way they reported death from violent crime. He noted that Black and Asian victims of violent death did not get the same attention as White victims. However, the murder of the Black teenager Stephen Lawrence by White racists in 1993 received high-profile coverage, both on television and in the press.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As invisible in 2005, a BBC News Online survey noted that Black and Asian people were represented as newscasters and television journalists, but the range of roles that ethnic minority actors play in television drama is very limited and often reflects low status, e.g. Africans may play cleaners or Asians may play shopkeepers. Ethnic minority audiences were also very hostile towards tokenism the idea that programmes contain characters from ethnic minority groups purely because they should. Ethnic minority audiences complain that Black and Asian people are rarely shown as ordinary citizens who just happen to be Black or Asian.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As blue
collar workers shop workers/owners; cab drivers etc.
This stereotype most likely originates from old colonialist views, which placed white British people as superior and elite compared to those from the colonies When immigrants from this part of the world began to arrive in the UK seeking employment, many found work in the service industries As with other minority groups in British TV, middle eastern actors were frequently cast in servile roles with the focus of the drama being on the experiences of the white-British characters
Some specifics: Middle Eastern origin

Like other ethnic groups in the UK, many people of Middle Eastern origin are frequently represented as:
Studious and well-educated (scientists, doctors etc.) Family orientated Patriarchal, traditional and/or misogynistic reinforced by headlines and storylines about honour killings and arranged marriage
These storylines are the result of the clash between western and eastern cultures and religions, with the dominant ideology (the western ideology) taking precedence in media texts
Some specifics: Middle Eastern origin - Islamaphobia

Since the events of 9/11 there has been a growth in Islamaphobia an irrational fear of Muslims as people bent on imposing their religious and political views on the rest of society. Media texts have perpetuated this through their use of crude and exaggerated stereotypes, creating the stereotype of middle eastern people as terrorists and villains.
Some specifics: Far Eastern origin

People from the Far East are difficult to find in British TV drama. General stereotypes include: Computer experts/techies (almost exclusively Japanese and featured in sci-fi) Mystical, magical or exotic A perpetual foreigner i.e. always an outsider, with poor English skills and little understanding of Western culture Kung-fu or martial art experts
Some specifics: Eastern Europeans

(e.g. Polish, Romanian) whilst many Eastern Europeans live in the UK, they are under-represented in TV drama and are represented negatively in the news, as a threat to jobs or as benefit scroungers. Recently, Coronation Street and Eastenders featuring Eastern Europeans as cheap labour. Their roles were little more than extras, or tokenistic. Their cultural differences and heritage remains untouched. Corrie has one Polish character, but she is a factory worker.
To summarise
Often positioned as outsiders (them versus us) highlighting their otherness Otherness is highlighted through dress, accent/language, religious beliefs or other cultural indicators Often working menial jobs Often stereotypical or underdeveloped characters whose ethnicity is a central part of their storyline and/or identity Often in need of help, or positioned to be pitied Socially/economically subservient to white westerners
Often
tokenistic
Tokenism
Tokenism is a practice of inclusion or artistic and/or political representation of members of a traditionally marginalised group, usually creating a false appearance of inclusive practices rather than discrimination e.g. purposefully including a member of a minority race such as a black character in an all white cast
Token characters often have a reduced role or capacity in comparison to characters who fit with the dominant group. Their difference is often emphasised or made exotic.
Alvarado (1987) categorised the portrayal of ethnic

minorities in four ways: The Exotic The Dangerous The Humorous The Pitied
but are there any more positive representations of ethnic minorities?
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. As successful
athletes
The problem with these, of course, is that ethnic minorities have far more diverse talents than these stereotypes suggest!
As intellectual
As
good dancers
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes, to show how meanings and responses are created.
Lets look at some texts featuring ethnic minorities. Each of these texts was controversial. Can you think why? Make notes on each text, considering the use of stereotypes and how different audiences might respond to them. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.
What ideology do these texts promote?

Constructionist approach a reminder: The thing itself / the opinion of the encoder / reading and response of audience / context of society within which the representation takes place
How can Banksys Rioter with Flowers be considered to challenge representations of ethnicity? Does it challenge any other representations?
Lets look at a moving image text.

Text 1: Lynx Make Love, Not War- TV advert 2014
Group A Group B Make notes on the nonwhite people in the advert. - Function/role - Technical, audio and visual codes - Ideology
Make notes on the white people in the advert.

- Function/role - Technical, audio and visual codes - Ideology

Text 1: Lynx Make Love, Not War- TV advert 2014
Exam Question Question 2
2a. Identify two different ways ethnicities are represented in the advert. [4 marks] 2b. Choose one ethnicity and explore in more detail how it has been represented. [10 marks]

Text 2: McDonalds We all make the games- TV advert 2012
Group A Group B Make notes on the nonwhite people in the advert. - Function/role - Technical, audio and visual codes - Ideology
Make notes on the white people in the advert.

- Function/role - Technical, audio and visual codes - Ideology

Text 2: McDonalds We all make the games- TV advert 2012
Exam Question Question 2
2a. Identify two different ways ethnicities are represented in the advert. [4 marks] 2b. Choose one ethnicity and explore in more detail how it has been represented. [10 marks]
ethnic minorities
2c. With reference to your own detailed examples, explore the ways in which ethnic minorities are represented in the media today. [16 marks]
Candidates must use 2-3 specific examples of how media texts represent the given group and analyse them in detail focusing on the concept of representation.
There is an expectation that candidates attaining the higher levels will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of representation and be able to anchor their chose examples in terms of context and purpose. The chosen examples should be analysed in some detail and the more able candidates must engage with them on a more sophisticated level that goes beyond simple descriptions or assertions of positive and negative. The examples used must be contemporary in order to reflect the representation of 'in the media today'.

Representation of Ethnicity

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REPRESENTATI ON

NATION AND ETHNICITY

Race: (n) a human population considered distinct based on

Nation: (n) a relatively large group of people organized

Lets start by thinking about Britishness

British Stereotypes #1 Hugh Grant

British Stereotype #2: Brits Abroad Ad Your Turn!

Constructionist approach a reminder:

British Archetypes: Frank Gallagher

British Archetypes Your Turn!

Constructionist approach a reminder:

(About 13% of the total population)

815,000 black Christians 353,000 mixed race Christians

45% of ethnic minorities live in London

represented or are represented in stereotyped and negative ways across a

newspapers and television news have a

opposition = them vs us).

outside perspective (usually of ignorance) and rarely from an inside

Focus on typical ideologies about ethnic minorities

Ethnic minorities and moral panics

As a threat ethnic minorities are often portrayed as a threat to the

abnormal the cultural practices of

collar workers shop workers/owners; cab drivers etc.

Some specifics: Middle Eastern origin

Some specifics: Middle Eastern origin - Islamaphobia

Some specifics: Far Eastern origin

Some specifics: Eastern Europeans

Alvarado (1987) categorised the portrayal of ethnic

but are there any more positive representations of ethnic minorities?

What ideology do these texts promote?

Lets look at a moving image text.

Make notes on the white people in the advert.

Lets look at a moving image text.

Lets look at a moving image text.

Make notes on the white people in the advert.

Lets look at a moving image text.

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