Representation of
Ethnicity
Black Acting School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKX4LktBI5o
What points is this extract making? Does it still have
relevance to our contemporary media landscape?
Typecasting
Typecasting is the process by which a particular
actor becomes strongly identified with a specific
character or role.
Alvarado Theory (1987)
Four Key Themes in Racial Representations:
• Exotic
• Dangerous
• Humorous
• Pitied
Stuart Hall (1995)
He outlines three basic images of the ‘grammar
of race’ employed in ‘old movies’:
Slave
Native
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz30vlff2kQ
Clown
Case Study:
50 cent
Exotic and
dangerous!
How are visual codes
used to represent 50
Cent in this image?
`
Watch this trailer for the PS3 Game 50 Cent - Blood on the
Sand (2009) and answer the questions below.
Warning: This extract contains very strong language
throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1J9TMwXvSA
1. Who is this text aimed at?
2. What stereotypes does it appear to reinforce?
3. How are we supposed to feel about 50 Cent in this
trailer?
4. How does it construct notions of ethnicity? Is it a positive
representation of African Americans?
Watch this review of the game on Charlie Brooker's
Gameswipe (2009).
Warning: This extract contains very strong language
throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=496-HyZi0oI
5. What oppositional view is being established here? Do you
agree?
http://www.theory.org.uk/ctrrol6.htm
Log on to theory.org.uk
and read/make notes
on this chapter. There’s
a link from the wiki
AS exam> ethnicity
Analyse the
representation of a
‘black’ person/
character in a media
text of your choice.
Make sure you refer to
theory.
Match up! (And say something smart).
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anti-racism films
•
Native
•
Antonio Gramsci
Savages
•
Blaxploitation
•
Colonial attitudes dominate
production process: TV companies •
as ‘safari hunters’.
•
Chris Dunkley
•
Hegemony
•
Freeth
•
Uses & Gratifications
Gitlin
Black character as main protagonist
Clown/Entertainer
Robinson
‘Ethnic’ programming is ‘benign
fascism’ capable of producing
‘cultural Apartheid’.
Stuart Hall
Tokenism
Stuart Hall
From exclusion to domestication.
Stuart Hall
Faithful slave
Trix Worrell
Answers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anti-racism films
•
Native
•
Antonio Gramsci
Savages
•
Blaxploitation
•
Colonial attitudes dominate
production process: TV companies •
as ‘safari hunters’.
•
Chris Dunkley
•
Hegemony
•
Freeth
•
Uses & Gratifications
Gitlin
Black character as main protagonist
Clown/Entertainer
Robinson
‘Ethnic’ programming is ‘benign
fascism’ capable of producing
‘cultural Apartheid’.
Stuart Hall
Tokenism
Stuart Hall
From exclusion to domestication.
Stuart Hall
Faithful slave
Trix Worrell
Now apply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U&ob=av2e
Bonus points for anything smart about
representations of gender while we’re at it!
Over to you
1. Find your own media text that represents ‘black’ people
and analyse the codes used to create meaning. If this is
moving image then the clip needs to be available on
Youtube. Please insert hyperlink into your work.
Then:
2. Consider the following statement:
Part of stereotyping is the attitude that all members of
a particular group are the same, or else fall in to a very
small number of types.
• How and why are black people stereotyped? (Refer to
theory).