might inadvertently borrow elements from another
culture and cause offense. Is the element providing
recognition to the cultural group and offering a
respectful portrayal, or is it thoughtless appropriation?
CULTURE, ETHNICITY AND MEDIA LITERACY
It’s no secret that popular culture and the media
easily influence societal views. Whether we like it
or not, our perception of ethnic groups and their
customs are highly susceptible and subconsciously
formed, in part, by the media.
“Media have social and political implications, and
audiences negotiate meaning,” Matthew Johnson
told InSpades Magazine. Johnson is the Director of
Education for MediaSmarts, a Canadian centre for
digital and media literacy. “All media, no matter how
trivial or disposable, have meaning; that meaning
may not have been consciously intended by the
creator(s) but it’s there, and it affects how audiences
view themselves and the world.”
Essentially, it’s important for viewers to
understand that the portrayal of an ethnic group
may not be an accurate representation, and might
be the creator(s)’ projection of their individual
interpretation; what could be viewed as a neutral
or positive portrayal of a group by some, might
be interpreted as negative by a person of the
portrayed group. According to Johnson, this
disjointed interpretation among different audience
members occurs because “members of the group
being represented haven’t had the opportunity to
tell their own stories.”
When Caucasian performers assume the role of a
character that is a member of a visible minority, it is
“contributing to the history of depriving these groups
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inspadesmag.com