How Network Television Is Cultivating A Racist Culture
In today’s society all types of mass media are influential on everyone whether they are conscious of it or not. Medium ranging from magazines to television shows are impactful.
Many shows presented on television networks such as ABC, FX, FOX and KGW are sitcoms that appeal to not only adults but families as a whole. And the way that those shows present themselves and their message will influence its audience greatly.
Especially the young generation’s construction of reality can be easily obstructed by false or extreme stereotypes in the media.
Comedy is the main genre of program on these networks so that also draws in a larger audience. Recently much of the “comedy” is based on stereotypes of certain ethinicities and genders.
Since it aired in 2014, “Black-ish” has received a lot of criticism because of its ties to racial stereotyping. Known for its borderline offensive jokes and unrealistic interpretations of African-American people, “Black-ish” has lost many viewers since its release.
An article in The New York Post was written about several opinionated citizens describing their frustration on the topic, “We find it racist, socially damaging and offensive based on the concept that nonstereotypical black people are less their race than others.”
The population has a role schema based on previously acquired information about African-Americans, and this show is unnecessarily elevating the schema.
Often, shows will try and inconspicuously put in topics related to race and ethnicity but “Black-ish” does the exact opposite and everyone is noticing.
Even president Trump commented on the obscenity of the show, although he is specifically focused on the title he recognizes it is wrong.
The spiral of silence issue has definitely not appeared in this situation, many critics as well as regular individuals have not shied away from tearing this show to shreds. This a very open topic that is well known among many Americans.
There are obviously people out there who enjoy the program or else it wouldn’t still be on the air, but a majority of viewers are there to criticize and complain about the content.
Cultivation theory and stereotypical content are closely correlated. If someone isn’t directly exposed to a certain culture the most available information comes from the media and people tend to believe what they see on TV or the internet.
The problem with that is most of what they’re seeing is exaggerated for entertainment purposes.
The fact that this is a clip they are using to promote the show is baffling, it just shows that ABC is consciously intending to advertise their over-exaggerated view of African-Americans.
