The Representation of African Americans in the Media and...

Introduction In popular culture, specifically American television, representations of African Americans often rely upon an array of stereotypes. Representation is the production of meaning through language or signifying systems. In media, the dominant stereotypes of African Americans include the sapphire, the coon, the jezebel, and the buck. These stereotypes originated during the minstrelsy period of the 1830s from white actors in blackface. While classic Black stereotypes originated during this period, they have carried on past the stage onto the small screen today. Television is a complex site of power where African Americans themselves have enacted these aforementioned stereotypes, particularly in the situation comedy genre. African†¦show more content†¦Also completing the cast are RB singers K.Michelle and Karlie Redd (Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, 2013). The show is known much less for hip hop and much more for its drama. The first season surrounds the love triangle between Stevie J, Mimi, and Joseline. Stevie J’s â€Å"chronic infidelity† has been criticized as a form of abuse (Abrams, 2012). Abrams (2012) gave an opinion piece on The Grio’s website that had received much attention. She believes that showing unhealthy relationships with emotional abuse and chronic infidelity is â€Å"contributing to and condoning a culture of misogyny that sanctions the abuse of black women† (Abrams). She feared that trivializing destructive behavior in entertainment will cause viewers to be unable to handle these behaviors in their own lives. Communication Problem In communication scholarship, there isn’t enough understanding of how reality show audiences feel about what they watch. The purpose in conducting this study is to develop an understanding of how audiences interpret performed identities in reality television. There needs to be more discussion of the present state of reality television. Much of the discussion of African Americans in reality television circle around 2008 when Flavor of Love or Omarosa Manigulat-Stallworth, star of The Apprentice, was on air. Reality television is increasingly becoming the dominant genre of television. Because of it staged version of reality, audience members areShow MoreRelatedHistorical Racial Issues of Broadcast Television699 Words   |  3 PagesCivil Rights Movement, broadcast networks began to face public backlash over the representation of African Americans on television or the lack thereof. In the early 1960s, the NBC affiliate station WLBT in Jackson Mississippi refused to show The Nat King Cole Show or civil rights coverage (Hilmes, 269). Many people were upset by this because it was yet another way for the South to discount the citizenship of African Americans. 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