Race and Ethnicity Display in Media - Essay Example

Race and ethnicity have continued to be shown by the media in different ways. It used to be shown in films and television in the earlier decade of 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s and so on.  The same has continued to happen even in the later decades of the 90s and 20th century. Although this happens there are ways in which the scenes have changed. What used to be seen as deviant in earlier decades is not the same as what is seen as deviant in the current films or television episodes.

The media in this case the television has a significant role to play in terms of race and ethnicity. The programs shown should have societal standards that discourage race and ethnicity. The older television had distortions, erasures, and omissions in their reflection of race and ethnicity. There were persistent patterns of racism and prejudice in the television shows. The television channel presented a viewer with a prejudiced view about ethnic and racial minorities. There were absolute volumes of prejudiced rhetoric, racist images, and stereotypes in the shows and episodes. This was not an isolated case, rather, it took place in a series of episodes in the television show. For example, Goldberg’s TV Show which is a comedy about a Jewish family, shows the obstacles that are faced by the minority.

Television shows violated the basic responsibilities and freedoms that society entrusted to the television channels. This showed that there can never be freedom without responsibility. The episodes failed to replicate the multicultural and multiracial environment of the people and customers who were viewing the programs. However, advocacy initiatives have been done to make a difference. Television shows have gone through transformations and changes have been witnessed. These have changed due to the perception and enlightenment of the dangers and effects of racism and ethnicity.

The advocacy initiative that was developed, to change this included; participating in committees of the media, and groups working with senior management on ways of programming and hiring. This helped to identify the discrimination and bias that was reflected in the television shows and episodes. Methods of dealing with racism in television episodes were developed. Initiatives and efforts were made to establish television shows and episodes that were not deviant from societal standards.

Things did not change much from the earlier decade television shows to the current episodes being shown. However, there were limited changes in the television shows and episodes. Television shows started to use people of all colours in the episodes. The actors in the shows were from all races and ethnic groups. In addition, issues that were relating to racism were covered more and shown in the television episodes. The colour of people that showed special features was discouraged. The episodes showed people of a particular colour to depict race and ethnicity. However, despite, all these efforts, the progress has been illusory and sporadic.

The current and latest television shows continue to manifest some aspects of racism and ethnicity. Despite, the supposed changes, the television shows in the episodes still do not represent all people of colour. This unequal status in the society of racial minorities is manifested and reflected in the episodes. Their absence in the on-air roles in television shows depicts racism and ethnicity. Moreover, they are underrepresented in television shows and episodes. This limited participation shows cultural racism, biasness, and structural barriers. The behaviour is woven into the system that has norms, values, and beliefs of the dominant culture.

The hiring practices are what are causing the invisibility of people of colour. The television episodes show people of colour as just entertainers or athletes. In addition, they are given roles that are related to criminal activities. Television programs show people of colour only at limited times. These people were interviewed at night programs. In the case of the Goldberg TV show, it was aired at night. In addition, the programs in which they appear are only shows that are about the non-whites. The stories about political issues, taxes, and sports did not feature prominently as expected. Opinions from racial minorities are rarely conducted. The stories are generally not related to the people from those communities. These trends are depicted in the CTV’s National Evening News and CBC’s The National.

The ethno-cultural and racial groups complained that they are depicted as foreigners instead of citizens when they watch television programs and episodes. The stigmatization, marginalization, and invisibility of people of colour in television shows indicate that they are not full participants in society. This is shown by the episodes of the Modern Family program. The dominant cultures have a universal norm that makes them racially abuse others. This system is embedded in television shows and episodes that represent people of colour.

The television shows are selected events that present stereotypical fashions and are atypical. They show people of colour as people who have a lot of tribulations. This contrasts with the excuse of normativity in the episodes. For example, the episodes of Modern Family depict this trend. The guidance is given on what to focus on, to excel in the marketplace. However, the television stations are influenced by their connections within the society who have influence and power. The stations control what is to be accessed by the mass audience and elites of power. The controlling and qualitative information determine the television shows that will be screened and aired.

The television episodes and shows are owned by corporate interests. Although they espouse equality, democratic values, fairness, and freedom of expression, the television shows reproduce and reinforce racist ideologies.