The lack of diverse representation in the media has been a subject of controversy since the invention of film. A recent example of this is that #OscarsSoWhite is trending on Twitter. This popular hashtag has been been the topic of conversation for the past month, and perhaps for good reason. The only non-white actor to be present on stage at the Oscars this year is comedian and host Chris Rock. So the question remains unanswered; do modern television shows and movies accurately represent the melting pot that is America? And furthermore, is it Hollywood’s job to do that?
Print, radio, and television are the mediams through which Americans absorb information today. In this rapid, ever-changing technological era, we not only see news, we inhale it–sometimes unwillingly. Advertisements, promotions, and images are thrown into the faces of people who engage with society everyday. Entertainment television shows and movies are sometimes the only forms of media people consciously desire to experience. And these people who come home from a hard day of work at the office, or wherever, sit down and expect to be entertained. But by whom are they being entertained? It is producers, directors, writers, and actors that fill the screens of tablets, televisions, and computers of Americans with content that is supposed to depict the comedy and drama of real life. The film industry wields more power than most consumers realize. So then was Uncle Ben from Spiderman correct in saying that with great power, comes great responsibility? The answer is a resounding yes.
Even television shows are, while a bit more diverse than film, are still lacking the accurate representation of American demographics. These shows are subjectively humorous and always receive reviews. Every magazine and newspaper seems to comment on the chemistry of the characters within the show, yet no one seems to highlight a more noticeable fact: the main characters are always white. Sure, there are supporting roles awarded to actors that are black, Hispanic, and on the rare occasion, even Asian, but these roles hardly ever dominate the main storyline. Often, the character line up is so obviously attempting to achieve diversity that the non-white actors that are cast are exaggerated. For example, the only non-white character of Raj in “The Big Bang Theory” happens to have a thick Indian accent, enjoys eating Tandoori Chicken, and is a highly-intelligent astrophysicist. The irony is that the actor who portrays Raj is British. Another example of this odd racial construct so often found on television is the show “New Girl.” While the show’s cast is actually quite diverse, the only two white characters are the leads! It is arguable that the arc of the characters of Schmidt the Jewish roommate, and Cece the model of Indian descent, are far more interesting than the couple the writers try to force down the throats of the fans. However, when there are sitcoms that break from the common white-lead formula like the show “Black-ish,” or “Fresh Off the Boat,” the entirety of the plot is satirically based off of the fact that the main characters are not white.
Throughout history, we have seen the impact of the media on the masses. Hitler’s recorded speech and rhetoric is a prime example of significant negative influence. Just as one man can abuse the media to push his own personal agenda, one TV show or commercial can surface negative emotions from those who watch. For example, the mind of a child is curious yet naive and it is quite difficult for parents to censor everything from their kids. This excessive exposure to media can impact mental youth development. When a young Chinese-American girl turns on the TV to watch her favorite show, she is unknowingly confronted with a startling realization; she is not represented. Perhaps she might relate to certain qualities of a character on the show but as she continues to grow up, will she have a someone that looks like her with her experiences to look up to?
President Obama recently weighed in on the issue. He said the “debate is an expression of a broader issue” by asking the question, ‘Are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot?’” (Hollywood Reporter). If the problem catches so much attention that even our nation’s leader feels the need to comment, perhaps something is very wrong.
The solution to this problem of racial inequity is not to simply cast actors of color for the sake of satisfying consumers of certain races, cultures, and heritage. The solution is for the powerful producers, writers, and directors of Hollywood to explore avenues they never thought to go down before. There are storylines that are much more representative, inclusive, and more importantly–successful. America is a country of colorful backgrounds, viewpoints, and physical beauty. It is the duty of the those in charge to use their power for good.