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Ethnicity

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Submitted By sammiilove79
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“African – Americans, Asian – Americans, and Latino’s have been depicted in television, sports, and films in ways that have been changed in our society” (Omi 655). Stereotypes play an important role in today's society and particularly in Propaganda. According to the Webster's Dictionary stereotyping is defined as “a fixed conventional notion or conception of an individual or group of people, held by a number of people.” (Webster’s dictionary) Stereotypes can be basic or complex generalizations which people apply to individuals or groups based on their appearance, behavior and beliefs. Stereotypes are found everywhere. Though our world seems to be improving in many ways it seems almost impossible to liberate it from stereotypes. For example, African- Americans are associated with basketball, and acting. Asian – American men are made out to be the bad guys in film, women are seen as prostitutes and are sexual abused. Last but not least Latino’s are popping up everywhere, in hit TV shows like Ugly Betty, in major league baseball and in the music business. Stereotypes have existed since the beginning of time in our everyday life through religion, politics and the media. Humans have the tendency to use stereotypes in their humour, their descriptions of others, and even in their beliefs. One may believe it is possible to rid oneself of such habits; however if one looked at the regular promotions of propaganda, it would make this objective impossible. Stereotypes, however, aren't always negative. Propaganda is a force which can influence and affect everyone; bringing changes in behavior, attitudes and ones beliefs. It is also known that media impacts its viewers modifying their judgments based on the information which they receive. Substantial amounts of stereotypes broadcasted through propaganda have similar effects. One example is the Harlem Globetrotters. “Black athletes were barred from participation in mainstream professional sports (the Harlem Globetrotters were created because blacks weren’t allowed in the early NBA” (Omi 647). This team aloud blacks to play a sport, that in today’s society are known to be amazing at. If this basketball team never formed than blacks would not have been able to play the game they love. Basketball is not the only thing that African – American’s are known for. If it was not for TV shows and movies, would we know who these big time actors are? Names like Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Terrence Howard, Forrest Whitaker, Don Cheadle, Jamie Foxx, Taraji P. Henson, Mo'Nique, Gabourey Sidibe, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Bill Cosby. All of these big time actors would have never been nominated for best supporting actor, or got the lead role in a major film if it weren’t for the people who first put blacks in films. Our society has come a long way since the first time that African’s were put into film. They used to have diminishing roles just to be a part of the movie business. If it were not for those people that started out at those crappy jobs, then we would not know who Will Smith or Denzel Washington is. Gender, race and class stereotypes of Asian Americans in the media, especially those depicted in popular movies, give the impression of what Asian Americans are really like to other Americans as well as to Asian Americans themselves. From the exaggerated depictions of exotic, sex-hungry Asian women to the gangster-involved, sexually abusive characteristics of Asian men, movie producers manage the gender, race and class inequalities of Asian Americans by allowing these demonizing Asian characteristics to appear over and over in their box office movies. Examples of such characters appear in popular Asian-American movies such as The Year of the Dragon (1985), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), and Return to Paradise (1998). Depictions of Asian Americans in the movies have not changed much over the years. The appearance of the evil-scheming Fu Manchu portray the Asian man as cold and ruthless, "all brain but no heart" (Cao). We are still able to find this negative Asian male character in some action-packed movies such as Fury of the Dragon (1976) and The Year of the Dragon (1985). Despite the fact that Asian Americans have lived and flourished in the United States over the past century, Asian Americans are commonly portrayed as newly arrived immigrants who speak fortune cookie (broken) English and cannot understand other members of the American society. Other negative depictions include greedy Asian bandits out to destroy white civilization and defy its man-made laws, and Asian women who are weak, passive and allow themselves to be sexually and emotionally abused by men. “What are you saying? Come on, girl! I'm Black, you're Mexican. Let's not talk around it like a couple a dull white people!” (Betty) Viewers of the hit show Ugly Betty believe this information to be completely accurate for they hold little or no knowledge about that particular group. Though the stereotypes shown on TV are usually misrepresented, they are quite well accepted by the audience as the truth. The viewers who watch these shows on a regular basis do not recognize the biased content, which is being presented. Media grabs the interests of their audience through comedy, drama, and action which causes the viewers to disregard the immorality behind the content. Hence, the effectiveness of using such stereotypes contributes to the popularity of TV shows. On the contrary, the propaganda's use of stereotypes is not necessarily always a negative phenomenon. Propaganda's use of stereotypes can sometimes give one the motivation to learn. Not only is this seen in hit TV shows. Now through the music part of media, we see Latino’s branching out. Famous names like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez give Mexicans something to be proud of. We as a group listen to these popular singers everyday and don’t give a second thought to whom these people are and where they came from. We only know that we like their voices and that’s enough, no questions asked. Stereotypes play an important role in today's society and particularly in Propaganda. African- Americans are associated with basketball, and acting. Asian – American men are made out to be the bad guys in film, and the women are seen as prostitutes and are sexually abused, and Latino’s are popping up everywhere, in hit TV shows like Ugly Betty, in major league baseball and in the music business.

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