Media Culture and Social Representation (Essay Sample)

MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIAL REPRESENTATION
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The media has over the years evolved to become one of the most integral parts of the society. Its independence has been lauded and relied upon by people to receive credible and impartial information. What happens when the same media loses its independence and becomes partial? What happens when the media that was depended on to fight against vices such as racism becomes a party that condones it? As earlier explained, the media is an integral part of the society, and it is therefore bound to assimilate some of the society’s stereotypes in its operations. The media uses stereotypes to define narrowly and categorize a large community of people in a manner that does not portray the diversity of the people (Wilson, Gutiérrez, and Chao, 2013). It stereotypes all races, but since the media is majorly controlled by White people, they usually act on their racial biases to a larger extent than any other race. It is, therefore, prudent to eliminate stereotyping to restore the impartiality once enjoyed by the media. This essay thus presents an analysis on how such racist media stereotypes can be challenged.
In this digital era, there are alternative forms of media other than mainstream media e.g. the social media. These digital platforms offer channels through which people can voice their concerns and grievances against the mainstream media. People who use social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been at the forefront of campaigning against racism and racial stereotypes, especially in the media. Hashtags, a feature of these websites, which allow people to contribute to a conversation, have been used to advocate against racism in the mainstream media. For example, the hashtag ‘#HowMediaWritesWOC’ portrays how the media has negatively stereotyped and portrayed women of color compared to their white counterparts (Danielle, 2015). From the movie industry to newsrooms, the hashtag explores how modern women of color have been on the receiving end of negative and insulting remarks from the media. It challenges the media to not only highlight the shortcomings of women of color and entire the black community but also accentuate on their contributions to social, political and economic development (Danielle, 2015).
As seen above, the media borrows these stereotypes from the society. To completely do away with stereotypes in the media, we have to do away with them in the society (van Dijk, 2015). There is the need to emancipate people on the demerits of stereotyping and its role in dividing people along ethnic and racial lines. Children need to be taught from a tender age the importance of cultural diversity and the need to appreciate other cultures and races (van Dijk, 2015). Racism and acting in a racially biased manner should be illegalised and made punishable by law. We should ensure that members from different communities and races are given equal opportunities, to decrease the economic gap between the various races.
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