Easter Task #3

Critics have accused the mainstream media of tokenism and stereotyping by creating extreme and exaggerated representations. To what extent is this true for the group or place you have studied?

In the mainstream media it is evident the most producers may base representation of different race class on stereotypes. There are also many cases which tokenism is apparent. One of the main reasons why stereotypes are used is that it may allow the audience to understand what is being presented. Tokenism often occurs in mainstream media texts simply because it doesn’t make producers seem racist thus avoiding social issues among ethnic minorities.

A major example of tokenism in mainstream media is the 2009 horror movie Doghouse. It is a well known fact that horror films are famous for their use of ridiculously stereotypical token characters. Token characters normally have no relevance to the story they are often from ethnic or social minorities and are usually casted so that producers seem anti racist. 

The cast of doghouse is predominantly white and features two ethnic characters: Mikey and Graham. These characters however, aren’t shown in an exaggerated stereotypical fashion at all. Though they may have many negative characteristics (such as the childish ways of Mikey) there aren’t stereotypical in any way. They are to some extent shown as the more positive representations of men as unlike many of the other characters in the film they are respectful towards women. This therefore shows that the media isn’t guilty of creating extreme exaggerated representations.

Everybody hates Chris an American sitcom which aired between 2005 and 2009 is an example of exaggerated representations of working class black people in the 1980s. Rochelle who plays the mother of the family is shown in a highly stereotypical way. She is loud, and violent she also beats her children. However the rest of the family are not shown in a stereotypical way. Julius follows none of the stereotypes associated with black males such: taking part in criminal activities, drug taking and being unemployed. Similarly his son Chris is all shown as quite the opposite of the stereotype as he possesses no stereotypical qualities whatsoever.

In conclusion, mainstream media does contain some portrayals of stereotypes and tokenism. However ethnic characters are widely represented as the audience is given many representations to identify .