WP2 part 2: Examples of effective representation in media
In this post, I am going to explain the characteristics of a piece of media that contribute to positive representation and include some examples of media that I believe emulate this.
In order for representation to be effective, there are certain components that must be present. Firstly, representation must be accurate. Presenting stereotypes and caricatures of groups just further perpetuates misguided perceptions of those groups by consumers. Effective representation is often created by and for the members of the group being represented. This piece goes hand-in-hand with accuracy–it is best created by someone with lived experience. Another essential aspect of proper representation is story centrality. Members of marginalized groups should not be used merely as a prop or side-piece to the plot–they deserve to be represented as whole characters.
Below I have included a few examples of media that I believe contain these attributes. Again, media interpretation is subjective and I am by no means saying these are perfect or that they have “cracked the code”.
Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever follows the story of Devi, an Tamil-American teenage girl who is dealing with the death of her father as well as navigating the ins-and-outs of being a teenager. Never Have I Ever possesses all elements of positive representation that I described above. The show was created by Mindy Kaling, a Tamil-American woman. Kaling’s background allowed her to create an accurate representation of a Tamil household. Devi’s family celebrates Indian holidays, wears traditional Indian clothing, and practices Hinduism. Showcasing these important aspects of her identity helped to build a background for Devi, as opposed to other TV shows where there are Indian characters, but no information on their background or culture.
Devi is also given story centrality within Never Have I Ever. In many other TV shows with Indian characters, they serve as plot devices and side characters based off of stereotypes, such as being smart or nerdy. In Never Have I Ever, Devi’s character goes beyond stereotypes and explores the complexities of relationships, friendships, and grief, things normally not afforded to Indian characters. She does not serve simply to support or further the interests of white leads, but instead has her own story, and shows growth throughout the show.
Sex Lives of College Girls
Sex Lives of College Girls chronicles the complex and messy lives of four college roommates that come from diverse backgrounds. In particular, the character of Leighton Murray, played by Renee Rapp, portrays the lesbian experience in a way not seen on screen before. Leighton’s storyline is not ridden with trauma and repression, but instead with the joys and challenges of coming to terms with her queer identity. Leighton’s relationships in the show were of equal importance to those of her peers and she was celebrated and supported by her roommates. In many other examples of LGBTQ+ representations, characters are depicted as closeted and lonely, without a support system. Sex Lives of College girls flipped the script on this representation by showing Leighton navigating typical relationship experiences of queer youth for this generation.
Orange is the New Black
Orange is the New Black is a women’s prison drama that revolves around a white protagonist, Piper Chapman. Despite having a white lead, OITNB has a spectacularly diverse cast and takes the time to create detailed backstories for all characters. Even though Piper is the “main character,” OITNB gives each character equal storylines, with some of them not even including Piper. The show also dismantles stereotypes by presenting characters with varied races, economic backgrounds, and sexualities. It also highlights the injustices within the prison system in showing how Piper is afforded certain privileges and treatment that her black prison mates are not due to her race. Diverse identities are not used to support the white lead, but instead as central stories to the plot. As a result, the show became a platform for discourse about representation and social issues not discussed before in mainstream television.