Hispanics, African-Americans, and Other Cultures in Media - Term Paper Example

Under-representation of Hispanics, African-Americans and other cultural in the media Traditionally in the U.S. mass media, portrayal of Hispanics and Asians has mainly remained stereotypical, frequently derogatory descriptions that aid to reinforce the appearance of dominant parties as explained in their class opportunities. From media records, the mass media has largely been responsible of reinforcing conventional and negative accounts of Hispanics and Asians. However, the increasing figures of Hispanics and Asians in the U.S. inhabitants, globalization, and the increase of communications expertise have witnessed developments for Hispanics and Asians in media. This term paper aims at describing the under representation of Hispanics, African-Americans and other cultural in mass media. Mass broadcasting have participated and will persist to perform a crucial function in the manner Americans observe African-Americans. As an outcome of the overwhelming broadcasting focus on misconduct, drug use, group violence, and other shapes of defiant social conduct between African-Americans, the broadcasting have promoted a distorted and malicious public opinion of African-Americans (Mastro and Greenberg 112). The description of African-Americans is a long period struggle in opposition to oppression and favoritism. The mass media have participated in perpetuating the consequences of this historical persecution and in influencing to African-Americans' ongoing position as second-class inhabitants. As an outcome, America has experienced from a profound doubt as to description of African-Americans. Despite this ethnic division, something indisputably the whites concerning African-Americans has produced doubts concerning the white man's worth system (Mastro and Greenberg 113). Exploring how ethnic minorities are represented on TV is beneficial for two main reasons (Mastro and Greenberg 114). First, it is generally important to record how minorities are represented on TV as well as how these portrayals have transformed. Second, as an ethnic object, television influences a big audience. Many uphold that the way ethnic minorities are represented adds to stereotypical descriptions, whether negative or positive, that observers develop (Mastro and Greenberg 116). It has been recorded that television has turn out to be the “nation’s main story-teller” (Mastro and Greenberg 116). This term paper imitates earlier masterpiece by Mastro and Greenberg who discovered the illustration and portrayal of Caucasian, Latino and African American or black individuals on television. Mastro and Greenberg discovered that, Latinos were not represented on television compared to the African Americans and the Caucasians (116). They comprised of 3% of TV characters. Their study was significant because they described that Latino TV characters were not as destructively categorized as African American television character. Initial studies by Mastro and Robinson suggested that media metaphors and messages operate as a reasoning filter to aid how individuals represent the world. Others researchers have claimed that media has the “ability to reach the very remote areas of the human consciousness. If media images influence stereotypes, then ethnic minorities were negatively categorized on media is difficult. They noted that these negative stereotypes shaped how audiences think about ethnic minorities. Mastro and Robinson argued that media uninterruptedly supports views opinions over a long period (117). Proposing a culture hypothesis, Mastro and Robinson posited that media images update public feelings about the communal world (117). Specifically, fostering theory projected that oppressive exposure to mass media, TV in particular, formed how audiences saw the actual world. What such audiences believe as appropriate character portrayals, morals and philosophies are progressively in line with individuals presented on screen. Similarly, Lauzen and Dozier argued that mass media images, collectively with existed experience, considerably impact children’s outlooks of other children as well as people (25). Robinson et al. supported that mass media images can shape, transform, and strengthen stereotypes (27). Paek and Shah found that descriptions seen on mass media legalized existing stereotypes of the observing audience and provided them extra credibility (23). Furthermore, they suggested that some images, mainly those that are dominant to the observing audience, might be more significant in influencing racial outlooks than the number of subgroups characters exposed. Signorielli found that display of media descriptions of popular African Americans might have positive consequences on the ethnic attitudes of Europeans (204). Specifically, television metaphors may change biased racial feelings. The depictions of Latinos in the European social media are humiliating, insensitive, chauvinistic, and very imprecise. These Latino descriptions are responsible for the societal standard by which most people in this country critic the whole Latino society. Their ideas are shaped not out of authenticity, but from this customary that tells them the norm. Frequently times, this is a created norm, and it is the concern of the user to perform analytical examination. This standard leads to a lot of stereotypes and misrepresentations. It supported several times via the openings of these misrepresentations on mass media (Signorielli 205). There are two main consequences of the reality of these controlled images. First, stereotypes are shaped, believed, and preserved through the continuous outpouring of these messaged they encounter constantly. Stereotypes and preconception need to be consumed, and the media openings in this nation do their best to provide their needs for them to stay alive, and to develop to an enormous and outrageous percentage. This is mainly dangerous because many people from the mainstream use these images to form their decisions and concepts with very limited real-life understandings with the Latino beliefs (Signorielli 206). The second outcome stays in the emotions and opinions of the Latino society. This observation is even more correct for the youthful members of this society. There is a huge amount of impairment done by the social media to the identity image and consciousness of the distinctive Latino. To view oneself and individual values constantly and regularly represented as interesting and extraneous, unfortunate and lazy does makes an individual accept these depictions as correct and reality (Signorielli, 207). Quantities of newspaper, hours of exposure, and days of certified conferences and boards have been enthusiastic to the dispute that continuous, negative, one-sided portrayals of subgroup in the attraction media not only influences how subgroups believe in themselves, but also in the manner such descriptions contribute to the development or support of negative, marginal stereotypes in the minds of mainstream groups. This apprehension is consistent with societal identity theory. Signorielli states that people are differentiated as social individuals and seek an optimistic social identity through the differences between their personal groups and other groups (208). Reaction from other social individuals like ethnicity, religious, groups among others strongly influences on a group’s societal identity and the way members observe themselves in the social striking order. Subjective support for disputes regarding the influence of media imageries on a society’s self-image can be discovered in several essays on the topic. Persson and Musher-Eizenman argue that the marginal female’s interpretation of herself and bodily attractiveness is harmfully affected when opposed by the overabundance of European American representations and movie thespians who set the benchmarks for what is good-looking (203). Persson and Musher-Eizenman however, are careful to state that there has to be an established an observed connection between mass media stereotypes and the interpretations Asian women have about themselves. In an empirical study, Lauzen and Dozier discovered that African American adolescent young woman were not distressed by white presentations, and that they do not identify with European images of attractiveness saturating the media (205). Interestingly, Lauzen and Dozier found that television imageries have a harmful influence on the adolescent African American woman self-perception and not the adolescent African American man (206). Even though a sincere concern on mass media representations of immigrant inhabitants’ centers on Latinos, as these inhabitants is most predominant in present immigration outlines, even minor groups of the central Caucasian protest about media depictions. Most outstandingly, Italians in America groups persist to express interest over representation of Italians as faction related convicts in cinemas and television performances like Sopranos. The mass media has also depicted the Hispanics as lazy, foolish, greasy, scandalous, and immigrant (Lauzen and Dozier 206). Their influences ethnically, economically, and traditionally have never been accurately recognized or appreciated (Lauzen and Dozier 206). Hispanics generally, have been the targets of prejudiced stereotyping in a continuous string of metaphors and depictions that started with the fight over Mexican terrestrial in the Southwest as the Americans increased during the border era. The following are the main impacts of media shape the Hispanics other communities in the social media; (Rivadeneyra 216) 1. Information and entertainment mass media have a convincing effect on non-Latino opinions concerning immigrants and Latinos 2. Mass media descriptions of immigrants and Latinos can reduce or worsen stereotypically undesirable feelings concerning them  3. Individuals with more open interaction through or with information of Hispanics influence more optimistic interpretations of the group and its associates. Those maintaining very undesirable views are usually those with insignificant direct publicity to Hispanic community 4. Negative representations of Latinos and others are universal in news update and performing media. Therefore, non-Latinos usually believe that several media- endorsed undesirable stereotypes concerning these people are correct 5. Individuals exposed to undesirable entertainment or news update narratives concerning Latinos believe the most disapproving and antagonistic opinions regarding Latinos 6. Conventional radio and Fox News report program audiences are not familiar with the Latinos and others 7. The greatest commonly apprehended stereotypes happen parallel to the ones reflected in the mass media. Members were asked to remember the types of responsibilities they observe Latinos perform in film and television. The first three characters non-Latinos roles in these films as gang members, criminals, landscape gardeners or landscapers or housekeepers. Steps used to reduce the underrepresentation In the 1960s, affirmative action arose because of determinations by the public rights association to make America to respect its original agreement, that “everybody was created the same (Freedman 222). In addition, the Assurance of Faithfulness promises freedom and impartiality for everyone (Freedman 222). This commitment is an assurance of uniform opportunity for every individual irrespective of national origin, color, race, gender, and religion, which up to date had not been respected for individuals of color (Freedman 222). Recognizing the outrageous lack of assortment in depiction of media- and mainly when it comes to representations of beauty- is completely essential for all the races. The first step is recognizing themselves and rejecting those communications and the negative outlooks they instigate about non- Americans or the immigrants’ bodies (Freedman 222). Afterwards rejecting them, they uninterruptedly describe their own beauty in their own expressions with the assistance of the good-looking people in their lives who identify other shapes of beauty. In the developing world of the 21st century, the information media perform an essential role in assisting to form the opinions of the common people. Descriptions that are continuously communicated and opinion polls broadcasted effect and shape community opinion and opinions that influence the country. Among the greatest influential televisions that assist shape feelings is the entertainment broadcasting. It is very difficult to move into that business and systems are very mysterious about the way they select those who can be permitted. Frequently it requires someone to know and have connection with the right individuals. In the entertainment industry there are very few Hispanics, so the probabilities of a Hispanic obtaining a job in the business are not very easy (Subervi-Velez 235). When reporting for mass media, writers normally write on what they recognize, understand and their exposure to the community. Few Latinos are employed in this business so they have no one to represent them leading to a lot of stereotyped material. A research study of Latinas’ representation in the news report is nearly nonexistent. Several researches have concentrated on the structure of the Hispanic distinctiveness in general, and researchers found reliable outlines. Hispanic have been underrepresented as foundations and subjects of newscast for so long and portrayed as a problem to society in matters relating to migration, affirmative, and action crime (Subervi-Velez 235). Research studies on bilingual publications directed to Latinas discovered that these sorts of publications consistently emphasized the accounts of Latinas who have prospered (Subervi- Velez, 236). They provide ancestral discourses, and condemned the hyperactive secularization of Latinas. National Hispanic Media Coalition bridged the opening between competent Latino ability, and individuals in the entertainment production industry that seeks talented actors (Subervi-Velez 236). For example, NHMC manages the television writing program (NLMC), and this television program provides training of ten exceptional Latino journalists in a year, then provides employment in the entertainment industry (Subervi-Velez 236). Conclusion The mass media, especially social media, do not represent Latino in a very optimistic way. Hispanics are usually represented in situations that are associated to wrongdoing, or they take part in crime or taking part in violence or delinquency. They are depicted as people who are ignorant, strong-accented, unintelligent, and not well dressed. Most Hispanic appearances are presented along sex lines, like the Hispanic men who are presented as highly tempered and females are described as violent, lazy and having bad moral activities. Works cited Freedman, Jonathan. Media violence and its effect on aggression Assessing the Images on Television’. Journal of Adolescent Research, 21 (2006): 393-414. Print. Lauzen, Martha and Dozier, David. ‘Recognition and Respect Revisited’. Mass Communication and Society 8 (2005): 241-256. Print. Mastro, Dana and Greenberg, Bchm-Morazvifz. ‘The Portrayal of Racial Minorities on Prime Time Television’. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Fall (2000): 690-703. Print. Mastro, Dana and Robinson, Amanda. ‘Cops and crooks: images of minorities on primetime television’. Journal of Criminal Justice, 28 (2000): 385-396. Print. Paek, Hye Jin and Shah, Hemant. ‘Racial Ideology, Model, Minorities, and the “No-So-Silent Partner.’ The Howard Journal of Communications, 14 2003: 225-243. Print. Persson, Anna and Musher-Eizenman, Dara. ‘The impact of a prejudice-prevention television program on young children’s ideas about race’. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 18 (2003): 530- 546. Print. Redding, Richard. ‘Sociopolitical diversity in psychology’. American Psychologist, 56 (2001): 205-215, Print. Rivadeneyra, Rocio. ‘Do you see what I see? Latino Americans’ perceptions of the Scientific evidence. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Print. Signorielli, Nancy. ‘Aging on television’. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 48 (2004): 279-30. Print. Subervi-Velez, Federico. ‘Network Brownout Report 2005: The Portrayal of Latinos and Latino Issues on Network TV News 2004 with a Retrospect to 1995’. Austin, TX: National Association of Hispanic Journalists, 2005. Print. Read More