Race in the Media

For my blog topic I have chosen to write about race and its representation in the media. I have chosen to write about this topic because it is of great interest to me and because the media is of such great influence in our society and in the world today. Virtually every person in the United States has access to the media in one form or another. Whether it is through movies, television, radio, magazines, newspapers, or any other form of media, people are constantly bombarded with messages about anything and everything from people and places to behaviors, attitudes, and what constitutes beauty within our society. These messages can come from sources of so-called importance, such as those communicating current affairs, or can be from sources of entertainment, such as movies and television shows. Regardless of how the messages get in, they can stick with a person and influence the choices that they make on a daily basis, their beliefs, attitudes, and their assumptions.
Because the media is so ingrained into our society, most people have begun to rely on it for almost all information that they receive. Oftentimes, opinions expressed within the media (either implicitly or explicitly) are also construed as fact. For example, within the reporting of criminal activity in the news, how many times does one see or hear that the crime was perpetrated by a black person? Compare this number to how often a person will see a report of a crime committed by a white person. One can even examine the differences in the natures of the crimes which are being reported. The news is not solely to blame in its biased reporting of crime. Within television and film one is far more likely to see a person of color commit a crime than a white person, and even when there are an equal number of crimes portrayed, the nature of the crimes of white people are very different from the nature of the crimes of persons of color.
Another aspect I intend to examine is the representation of bodies. How are the bodies of white people portrayed within the media and how does this compare to the representation of the bodies of people of color? One can see a multitude of advertisements which portray bodies of color as “exotic” or more animalistic. On the other hand, white bodies are seen as more proper and “civilized.”
I wish to examine and critique these issues concerning the representation of race in the media along with many others throughout the semester. Along with these examinations I hope to be able to discuss with others topics such as where we draw the line and how deeply these messages and images have become ingrained into the mind of the average consumer. I am open to any suggestions that people have regarding different avenues within this topic or any sources that may be helpful. I look forward to my research into this topic that has been discussed in so many of my classes.