To respond to the Do Now, you can comment below or tweet your response. Be sure to begin your tweet with @KQEDEdspace and end it with #DoNowTV
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Do Now
What representations of women of color do you see in film and media? What do you think is missing from those representations, and what would you change about the way women of color are portrayed in the media today?
Introduction
In a recent controversial article on Deadline.com, Nellie Andreeva wrote a statement that many found offensive titled Pilots 2015: The Year of Ethnic Castings – About Time or Too Much of Good Thing? In the article she wrote, “A lot of what is happening right now is long overdue. The TV and film superhero ranks have been overly white for too long, workplace shows should be diverse to reflect workplace in real America, and ethnic actors should get a chance to play more than the proverbial best friend or boss. But, as is the case with any sea change, some suggest that the pendulum might have swung a bit too far in the opposite direction.” Deadline.com has since apologized for the article’s insinuations, but the fact remains that the conversation about diversity in television is inextricably linked to the sociology of race relations in American culture. Deadline.com has since apologized for the tone-deaf insensitivity of the article. While both male and female actors have seen an increase in television roles, many would argue that women are still largely underrepresented.
Representation of women of color on TV has increased, but how they’re represented and to what extent still leaves questions. In an interview with USA Today, author Tamara Winfrey-Harris said “We probably have more diversity of black female characters on television than ever before… The problem is there’s nowhere near the diversity that our white counterparts have.”
Many may look to Shonda Rhimes, the mastermind behind popular TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal starring Kerry Washington, Being Mary Jane starring Gabrielle Union, Black-ish and The Melissa Harris-Perry Show as a sign of they ways in which black women are currently reshaping the landscape of television both on camera and behind the scenes. People have also cited Rhimes as someone who brings smart, strong women to the forefront. In response Rhimes remarks “Is the alternative stupid, weak women? Like—I don’t know any of those… And nobody asks, ‘How do you write smart, strong men?’ That’s not a question that anybody’s ever asked before.’” For Rhimes and mediamakers such as creator of hit web series Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae, creating female characters who are just as complex and interesting as the women around them goes without question. In the chapter ‘Leading Lady’ from her new book dually titled The Misadventures Of An Awkward Black Girl, Issa asks “How hard is it to create to portray a three dimensional leading lady on television? I’m surrounded by them.”
When asked about her journey into the spotlight as a self-made independent media maker who has garnered recognition from the likes of Pharell Williams and Tracey Edmonds, Issa noted that she tried to make her way into the industry traditionally but was not accepted. “I was always told there wasn’t an audience for it because the content that I was writing was ‘too specific’… Whereas on the internet I was able to build an audience that appreciated my work as-is and that led to bigger opportunities… I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
What are your favorite shows? Do they portray black women and/or women of color? How are they portrayed and what do you think about the characters they play?
Resource
ARTICLE: This Isn’t The First Time Network TV Discovered Black People (NPR)
Last week, Nellie Andreeva, the co-editor of the insider-y Hollywood trade Deadline, wondered aloud whether the explosion of diversity this prime-time TV season had gone too far. Might it be putting deserving white actors out of work? Clicks sufficiently baited, the Internet went apoplectic. (On Monday, Deadline’s other editor apologized on behalf of the publication.) This article examines the representation of women of color on television throughout the years.
To respond to the Do Now, you can comment below or tweet your response. Be sure to begin your tweet with @KQEDedspace and end it with #DoNowTV
For more info on how to use Twitter, click here.
We encourage students to reply to other people’s tweets to foster more of a conversation. Also, if students tweet their personal opinions, ask them to support their ideas with links to interesting/credible articles online (adding a nice research component) or retweet other people’s ideas that they agree/disagree/find amusing. We also value student-produced media linked to their tweets. You can visit our video tutorials that showcase how to use several web-based production tools. Of course, do as you can… and any contribution is most welcomed.
More Resources
ARTICLE: Black women’s progress collides with media stereotypes (USA Today)
Not to rip off Charles Dickens, but 2014 was definitely one of those “best of times, worst of times” scenarios for black women in pop culture. Here’s a breakdown of what happened.\
VIDEO: A Girl Like Me (Media That Matters)
Color is more than skin deep for young African-American women struggling to define themselves.
MUSIC VIDEO: Limitations (BAVC)
The official music video for BUMP Records artist Moria Moore’s song, “Limitations.” The video follows Moria through Oakland and intercuts with historical footage of the same locations during the civil rights movement. Directed by Lily Yu.