Contemporary depictions of race

1. Contemporary depictions of race What role in modern society?

2. Continuing differences • The economic fortunes of African Americans continue to fall far below those of Caucasian Americans despite the removal of formal, legal barriers to black advancement

8. Theories of race relations • Sociobiological theories • Tribal sharing of genetic code • Racial superiority theories • Social Darwinism • Political economy theories • Divide and conquer by upper class • Construction of ‘race’ and inequality to justify slavery, unequal treatment • Cultural theories • Race is mostly a cultural construct that is powerful because of its resonance with religion, folkways, and familial and clan beliefs and loyalties

11. Do depictions matter? • The evidence points to a relationship among whites between exposure to stereotypic racial depictions and stereotyping • However, the relationship between minority exposure to depictions and lowered self-esteem is mixed. When parents co-watch the exposure can enhance self-esteem. Effects on Latino/Hispanic children are unclear.

12. Contemporary depictions of race, ethnicity • Certain groups continue to be underrepresented • Latino/Hispanic groups • Native American/Aleut • Overt racism, stereotyping is unacceptable to most audiences, members of media professions • With the possible exception of Arabs

13. More subtle differences in treatment of minority and majority characters may still be in place, however • Black male leads don’t kiss white women (or any women, for that matter) • Continued overrepresentation of minority/ethnic law enforcement • Depiction of subcultures tied to characters • Overly uniform

14. Changes in societal attitudes • Clearly, social attitudes have become more liberal in terms of race and ethnicity • Your generation is far more accepting of interracial contact of all sorts than earlier generations • Less stereotypical view of racial and ethnic minorities • not clear in regard to Arabs, a few others

19. However, • There is an alarming rise in the number and size of race hatred groups • Extremism on the rise • Views about racism itself are changing • General belief that racism is not the source of continued social disadvantage experienced by African Americans • “Burnout” in regards to discussion of race • Satirical treatment of racism rather than silence or direct confrontation

21. Concerns over representation • There is a greater concern among both Caucasian and African Americans about representation of African Americans in rap and hip-hop than in mainstream television, film, or other forms of music

29. Race may be declining as a focus of identity • Identity is crucial to behavior and personal satisfaction • Constructing a personal identity is one of the most compelling and difficult tasks children and adolescents undertake • It may be that popular culture plays a critical role in identity development