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Influence of the media on public opinion
Media influence on public opinion
Influence of the media on public opinion
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Mia Meyers
Woods
Eng 1102
7 April 2016
Hispanic Stereotypes
Races all over the planet have many different cultures within itself. The Latin race being one of the broadest ethnic cultures of all. Though, as many cutlures have, many Latino's have now been stereotyped as one particular culture or type of person based on the color of their skin. Many authors write on Media’s negative portrayal of the Latin race and broadness of the Latin communities’ culture. For years the Latin race has been portrayed negatively on the big screen. Hispanics have been portrayed by the media as lazy, uneducated, dirty, criminal, and alien (Padgett, para.10). Though their positive contributions have never been properly recognized, Latins have been victims
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of streotyping through a variety of films and so much more. Hollywood is fueled on type casting as a quick way to create personalities in ways that are simple for audiences to analyze and accept (Padgett, para. 15). In Hollywood, 6 typical roles have been created for those who are Latin. First, "The Latin Lover" was a stereotype that was popularized by Italian actor Rudolph Valentino who was presumed Latin. This type casting become an all but common occurrence after his films The Sheik (1921) and Son of the Sheik (1926) (Padgett, para.3). Second, "The Domestic" is a predominant role amongst Latin stereotypes. "The Domestic" is portrayed by both men and women usually playing gardeners or housekeeping maids. Often they are portrayed with thick accents and speak poor English (Padgett, para.4). Third, "The Male Buffoon" who is mainly there for comic relief, he is typically childlike, unintelligent, and a recyclable character (Padgett, para.5). Fourth, "The Harlot", played by women, is often portrayed in tight-fitting, low-cut clothing and attempts to steal away the married man by being overly sexualized (Padgett, para.6). Fifth, "The Female Clown", is also a sexualized female role but the counterpart of the comedic male role (Padgett, para.7). Lastly the sixth role is "The Bandito", a dirty, greasy, seemingly scary type who resorts to violence and speaks poor English. This type is now portrayed as “Latino drug dealers, Puerto Rican criminals in New York, and East LA gang-bangers.” (Padgett, para.8). Historically, Latinos have not only been cast under a negative light via stereotypes. They have also been widely unheard and excluded from most Media outlets in America (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.1). The Annenberg School of Cultural Communicators Project conducted a study and discovered that from 1969 to 1978 only 2.5% of popular television characters were of a Latin background (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.1). The value of this is that Hispanic minorities are still behind other minorities such as the African American population who create 8.5% of popular television show characters (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.1). Research was also conducted at The Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington DC (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.1). The results indicated that Latins have been placed in the lower ranges of representation in mass media for the past 30 years. (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.1). This percentage is also ensuing a downhill progression which is particularly recognizable in popular television shows. When Latins do take part in Media a very similar, and consistent trend is often present. Usually, it is someone who has stronger physical attributes, sun-tanned skin, and some sort of accent. The search to find a diversified type of Latin person completely makes light of the range comprised with the umbrella title of Latino. The shortage in dimension in how Latinos are represented fanatically helps to show little variation in the community by showing either rich or poor Latinos and no in between. This stereotype is nostalgic in the film A Day without a Mexican, where anyone who had a Latino background vanished suddenly (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.2). There were no establishments or remarks indicating different cultural backgrounds or beliefs. This strengthened the very typical stereotype that all Latino’s are Mexican. The issue with this presumption that Latinos are so undiversed is that it causes those who are not Latino to believe that no diversity actually exists. Another issue that arises with Media’s portrayal of a homogeneous Latin culture is that it suppresses many Hispanic cultures indirectly. Although Latinos are practically a splinter group community not all Latino cultures get along with each other or share the same beliefs (Latino Portrayal in Media, para.3). The Latin community has come together to fight the labels placed upon them. Latin have also used film to fuel their fire. A Dr. Benamou created a presentation that illustrated that, “Over the last fifty years Latin educational films discussed topics of border control, farm work, feminism, media activism, gay and lesbian documentaries, and globalization.” (qtd in. Latino Portrayal in Media, para.3). When referring to the stereotypes placed on Latinos, Media often portrays everything in a unkind manner. Latins comfortable with sexuality are portrayed as prostitutes or being risqué, having what is considered a lot of children is linked with being poor and helpless, while acting confident is looked at as an attempt to be ‘macho’ (Latino Portrayal In Media, para.
5). Viewers’ uneducated view of real problems and little acceptance of Latin culture allows mass media type castings to grow stronger and strengthen false stories about the Latin community. These unfriendly presumptions also link themselves to the use of propaganda used against Latin cultures. Latino Decisions and NHMC (National HispanicMedia Coallition) conducted a dual-part, multi-method examination on the force of mass media and the stereotypes of immigrants and Latinos on non-Latino views and feelings towards Latins and Latin immigrants (“Impact of Media Stereotypes.”, pg.1). The results of this research produced a vast amount of interesting discoveries about the bond within media messaging and viewpoints on Latinos and immigrants. Across the studies, three particularly important trends were found. “One, news and entertainment media have a strong influence on non-Latino perceptions about Latins. Two, many non-Latin people link together both good and bad perceptions of Latins. Three, media stereotypes of Latins worsen via stereotypical negative opinions …show more content…
about them.” (“Impact of Media Stereotypes.”, pg.1). The results of course had both positive and negative results. On the positive end of the result a number of people believe to be severeal things including, family oriented, hardworking, churchgoing, and honest. On the other end we find a vastly larger number gave negative responses like Latinos keep dirty homes, they take jobs away from rightful citizens, far too many babies, will not learn to speak English, uneducated, live off welfare. (“Impact of Media Stereotypes.”, pg.3-4). These ran accordingly to typically stereotypes portrayed. Contributors then were told to think of types of performances they often see those of a Latin background play on television and film. The results came back stating, ”71% see Latinos in criminal or gang member roles very often or sometimes. 64% frequently see Latinos as gardeners. 5% or less never see Latino actors play criminals, gardeners or housekeepers. 47% hardly ever see Latino attorneys or judges on TV or film. Only 5% see Latinos in roles as doctors, nurses, lawyers or judges very often.” (“Impact of Media Stereotypes.”, pg.4). Looked at as a whole, this information is a constant indication that Latinos must clash with negative outlooks placed on them by many in society as well as in the media.
The extensive mass of corporation executives encourage diversity in their policies. Though this may be true Latinos are still missing behind the camera as well. From the 2010 to 2013 time span, Latinos made up not one of the ranked top television show creators (“Latino Media Gap”, pg.3). Though, Latinos were ranked in the top 1.1% of producers, 2% of writers, and 4.1% of directors (“Latino Media Gap”, pg.3). In the top ten movie rankings, Latinos only made up for 2.3% of directors, 2.2% of producers, and 6% of writers (“Latino Media Gap”, pg.3). While absolutely no Latinos presently serve as studio managers, network presidents, or CEOs. Even in the top 53 television, radio, and studio media administrators, only one is Latina (“Latino Media Gap”, pg.3). As the Latino community is still being pushed away from traditional media, their creative minds are migrating somewhere else, to the Internet, blurring the lines between director and viewer. Latin presence online has risen much higher than in popular media types. Of the top 50 YouTube channels with the greatest number of subscribers, 18% are created by and/or feature U.S. Latino creators (“Latino Media Gap”, pg.3). The Latino community has been negatively portrayed and shut out for many years. Stereotyped and excluded from opportunity based on skin
color and media portrayal. The Latino community still battles these stereotypes on a day-to-day basis. With great diversity, many Latins still battle to let society know that Latins are not all just Mexican. Latins have proved to be educated, hard working, clean, and law abiding people. It is Media’s portrayals that causes such distain and negativity towards an entire race of people. Works Cited "Latino Portrayals In The Media." Latino Portrayals In The Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016 "The Impact of Media Stereotypes on Opinions and Attitudes Towards Latinos." The Impact of Media Stereotypes on Opinions and Attitudes Towards Latinos (2012): 1-13. Http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/. Latino Decisions, Sept.-Oct. 2012. Web. 6 Apr. 2016 Negrón-Muntaner, Frances, Chelsea Abbas, Luis Figueroa, and Samuel Robson. THE LATINO MEDIA GAP (2014): 1-42. Http://www.columbia.edu/. The Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2016. Padgett, Ken. "Brownface! - The History of Racist Latino/Hispanic Stereotypes." Brownface! - The History of Racist Latino/Hispanic Stereotypes. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
Harvest of the Empire is a valuable tool to gaining a better understanding of Latinos. This book helps people understand how varied Latino’s in the United States are. The author also helped give insight as to how Americans reacts to differences within itself. It does this by giving a description of the struggles that every Latino immigrant faced entering the United States. These points of emphasis of the book were explained thoroughly in the identification of the key points, the explanation of the intersection of race, ethnicity, and class, in addition to the overall evaluation of the book.
It is so difficult to stand out in everywhere. “There must be other Latinas like me. But I haven 't met any.” (Barrientos, Tanya p.65). Barrientos uses this article to share her struggles. She believes that if we face our problems such as race problem, we can overcome racial stereotypes. Author’s writings like a mental support encourage people to stand out. And they could influence people who have Latino community in the United States. If people feel that they are alone with their racial struggles, they should face that by themselves, but this article make them realize that they should speak up and support each other, sticking together in order to face and solve problems. Racial stereotypes cannot define citizens who do not have white skin and blue eyes, about who they are. And they, facing racial problem, will not judge other people because of their backgrounds and histories. In China, a part of officer is Embezzle money and engage in corrupt practices. People will look for other people. They will find other people not have a good reflect about telling low-office the corruption. Then, they will keep silence. If there are some guys to stand out and report the corruption event to law-office. Maybe they who stand out will lose money and social status, even go to prison, therefore, most people want to keep silence. People who keep silence is like the Latina people who do not stand out. It is an important determine for every Latina and
Latinos beyond Reel documentary film presented how US news and entertainment media portray Latinos. Latino American is an ethnic minority group of whom origin was from Latin America or Iberian Peninsula. Latino American is the fastest growing population in the United States. However, media has had negative effects for the Latino community. News media and entertainment had strongly influenced the perception of non-Latino about Latinos. These media portrayal of Latinos had implications for real world perceptions of Latinos.
Since the 1960’s, Latino communities have experienced the implicit and explicit effects of racism through various social institutio...
Fernandez, Lilia. "Introduction to U.S. Latino/Latina History." History 324. The Ohio State University. Jennings Hall 0040, Columbus, OH, USA. Address.
The usage of media is huge in nowadays. People rely on different kinds of media to receive information in their everyday life because they are thirsty for the diverse and informative content. However, inaccurate portrayals of people from different races always appear in the media and audience will exaggerate those portrayals by their inflexible beliefs and expectations about the characteristics or behaviors of the portrayals’ cultural groups without considering individual variation (Ting-Toomey and Chung, 2012); in fact, it is also called as stereotypes. According to a study by the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism at San Francisco State University (Stein, 2012), racial stereotyping continues to occur in media and the mainstream media's coverage of different cultural groups is full of biased reporting, offensive terminology and old stereotypes of American society. It specifically emphasizes that majority of the stereotyped characters in media will only bring out the dark side of their cultural groups which many of them might not be true, especially for the portrayals of black community: African American.
Latino portrayals in the media of theatre and movies have had negative affects for the Latino community but there are roles that are slowly becoming positive for their community. Not only have Latinos been portrayed negatively through stereotypes but they have also been ignored from American Media. When Latinos are actually present in different forms of media a very consistent type of Latino is portrayed. The words Hispanic and Latino already come with an image of that specific person who has dark features and an accent. When it comes to stereotyping Latinos in the media whether it be Hollywood or Broadway they tend to translate everything negatively through the roles they play. The audiences’ lack of understanding different Latino cultures allows the media to manipulate and reinforce myths on Latino communities. Rita Moreno from the film West Side Story had to overcome many stereotypes in order to achieve her fame. "Before 'West Side Story,' I was always offered the stereotypical Latina roles. The Conchitas and Lolita’s in westerns. I was always barefoot. It was humiliating, embarrassing stuff. But I did it because there was nothing else. After 'West Side Story,' it was pretty much the same thing. A lot of gang stories”
"Race and Ethnicity in Entertainment." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies.
Imagine being at risk of being pulled over at any given time, the only reason? The color of your skin. “2010, the state of Arizona passed a law authorizing local police to check the immigration status of anyone they reasonably suspect of being in the United States illegally.” (11 Facts...). The ability to pull people over for the sole reason of looking illegal. This seems aimed at Latinos because they are the ones that are easily recognizable, and often stereotyped as not being legal residents of the United States. For example, if two people were lined up and one had a light complexion and light features, and one had tan skin and darker skin, when asked who looked like an immigrant, a large majority would choose the individual with the tan
What would it be like to wake up everyday knowing you would get bullied, mistreated, and/or abused just because of where you were born? Discrimination still exists! “Discrimination remains and there is an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics, Latinos and Mexican-Americans, as one of the perceived symbols of that discrimination, the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, nears completion. Instead of pulling together in these difficult times, we may see a greater polarization of attitudes” (Gibson). But why are hate crimes increasing towards Latin and Hispanic aliens and what types of discrimination are occurring against them? Understanding violence towards the Hispanic and Latin alien is divided into three main classes; the difference between legal and illegal aliens, the attacks and effects, and the point of view of different people towards aliens.
Latinos have struggled to discover their place inside of a white America for too many years. Past stereotypes and across racism they have fought to belong. Still America is unwilling to open her arms to them. Instead she demands assimilation. With her pot full of stew she asks, "What flavor will you add to this brew?" Some question, some rebel, and others climb in. I argue that it is not the Latino who willingly agreed to partake in this stew. It is America who forced her ideals upon them through mass media and stale history. However her effort has failed, for they have refused to melt.
Abstract My research focused on the coverage of Asian Americans in contemporary mass media. The following types of media were researched. Music Television Films Magazines I gave several examples where Asian Americans used to play very simple characters. These roles were defined by stereotypes that exist in America.
Kanellos, Nicolás, Felix M- Padilla, and Claudio Esteva Fabregat, eds. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States: Sociology. Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1994. Print.
Stereotype has become the new fashion of labeling groups and an easier way to identify a minority group by ones opinion. Judith Ortiz Cofer, author of “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just met a girl named Maria” and Eric Liu, author of “Notes of a Native Speaker” escaped from any label that will shadow their minority group as a way to show others that it is possible to become themselves, rather than what society has labeled their minority group. Stereotype is not anything else other than expressions and opinions that have accumulated in past and present years. No one should ever be satisfied with their minority label, but should try to brake-free and be one in a million instead of a million in one.
Media bias is any stereotype set forth by the media that portrays individuals to society in a certain way. Media bias doesn?t even have to be a negative portrayal, but more of an inaccurate portrayal of people that helps aid to the ignorance of individuals in society. In the following paper, I will give specific instances where media biases have occurred as well as show that it is a common occurrence that we may not realize. I will also show you why individuals believe that media bias is not a problem because if you can?t blatantly recognize it, how can it be there. I will also show how stereotypes set forth by the media sometimes mirror stereotypes that are set forth by society, and they only exist to help form the belief and value system of society. I will also offer possible solutions to such problems. Media bias is a large problem, in that its? existence is not blatant nor is it one that many people feel threatened by.