Class Discussion
Before posting to the discussion thread, please read the following essays--three of the essays are quite short, while Omi's is quite long; however, he gives an extensive overview of problematic media stereotypes and representations from the past:
• Aymar Jean Christian's "The End of Post-Identity Television" (556)
• Michael Omi's "In Living Color: Race and American Culture" (538)
• Helen Andrews' "The Butler versus The Help: Gender Matters" (352)
• Theresa Celebran Jones' "Sanjay and Craig: Nickelodeon's Hilarious New Mixed-Race Heroes" (554)
In a post of at least one hundred words or more respond to at least one of the following questions raised in the readings. Your post should quote/cite from at least two of the above listed essays.
• Does Michael Omi's claim that in "television and film there is a tendency to present and equate racial minority groups and individuals with specific social problems" (para 30) still hold true in 2016? Support your position with specific examples from contemporary film and television.
• Aymar Jean Christian claims that mass media have entered a "post-identity" phase in which they are less inclined to rely on conventional categories of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other demographics. Do you agree or disagree. Support your position with specific examples from contemporary film and television.
• Helen Andrews refers to an ongoing "debate about whether or not black actors and actresses (along with screenwriters, directors, and producers) should never play the roles of the maid or the butler. The argument has been extended to Latino actors and actresses playing maids and gardeners. Where do you stand on this issue? Support your position with specific examples from contemporary film and television. (You might compare and contrast what you see, if any, as a positive versus a negative portrayal of these characters.
• Watch an episode of the cartoon Sanjay and Craig (there are some available on youtube). Based on your observations of the episode, do you agree with Theresa Celebrant Jones's claim that the program avoids typical ethnic stereotypes and "features people of color that are three-dimensional characters and not just racist caricatures [?]" (para. 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6C8bV1pk4g&list=PLgKKpCihWKeB9GobRZjLGw8uZadGhO_5f&index=2