Misrepresentation In Popular Films

1004 Words3 Pages

Minority groups have gone through several years of oppression and discrimination, just to see their community stripped of its authenticity. Mass media have portrayed the destruction of such lives through films that include their history. In doing so, filmmakers are using preconceived ideas to portray diverse characters. Instead, they make movies depicting racially offensive characters. By allowing society to continue this act of misrepresentation, the cycle of negligence towards underrepresented history will continue to be fabricated within the eyes of the media. Each label and misinterpretation of cultures in films depletes a community’s identity that defines what it means to be part of their culture. Minority communities are being misrepresented …show more content…

While they may do it unintentionally, any form of misrepresentation sets the viewers up for failure. Such lack of acknowledgment will result in the audience living a life of lies due to not knowing the reality of what minority groups have to endure. By learning about the trueness of one’s culture, a greater chance of connectivity will be made between the two sides. Instances of such misrepresentation can be seen in popular movies like Disney’s Moana, in which the company “spins a tale about the advice and support of Indigenous collaborators, but the corporation created the final film without their input, consent or ability to intervene” (Mentz and Smith). Disney disregarded what experiences the characters may encounter that would tie into their cultural background of being Polynesian. The company’s ability to depict a story of the ethnic community would solely rely on those who share a Polynesian background. When people choose to ignore how they can precisely represent minority groups openly, they are susceptible to making mistakes in how the public perceives cultures due to misunderstandings between the filmmakers and ethnic …show more content…

Those who attempt to recognize minority groups who are not part of them result in “the dehumanization done on the big screen. has aided in civilization’s justification for harming Indigenous people and communities” (Silva). The wild lifestyle that is seen on screen makes them seem less human as they replace authenticity with predispositions. They are no longer seen as people of their culture due to society’s failure to represent their history, which is how these preconceived ideas started. The film industry unrightfully “source communities--as represented by those who take up the role of spokespeople-- [that] do not approve of, and are aggrieved by, an unwanted taking of an important cultural practice, cultural form, or body of cultural knowledge” (Jackson). It is common for filmmakers not to account for how cultures may react to certain events used to represent minority groups. Using the stories of Native Americans as a way of entertainment immensely neglects how they have to endure the retelling of their

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