Essentialism and the Construction of Gender and Race in Season 2 of Lifetime ’ s UnREAL
By Seth Vannatta
Abstract : This article investigates UnREAL ’ s gender and racial discourse and imagery in order to assess its ability to promote a feminist and antiracist agenda . It proceeds by defining essentialism generally and gender and racial essentialism specifically . Next , it illustrates the way these concepts are depicted on Season 2 of UnREAL . Third , it investigates the UnREAL ’ s ability to undermine static notions of gender , depict the complexity of contemporary racism , and illustrate elements of racism inherent in white feminism . Ultimately , this article argues that in Season 2 UnREAL consciously constructs racial and gender injustices and stereotypes in a successful effort to make the audience reflect on patriarchy and racial injustice in contemporary society . The result of this analysis is that UnREAL constitutes a successful iteration of the feminist project of Lifetime ’ s Broad Focus initiative , one which includes a critique of liberal white feminism ’ s racist elements .
Keywords : UnREAL , essentialism in media , racism in feminism , Broad Focus initiative , feminist critique
Resumen : Este artículo investiga el discurso e imágenes raciales y de género de UnREAL para evaluar su habilidad de promover una agenda feminista y antirracista . Procede al definir el esencialismo generalmente y el esencialismo de género y racial específicamente . A continuación , ilustra la forma en que estos conceptos son representados en la segunda temporada de UnREAL . En tercera instancia , investiga la habilidad de UnREAL para socavar las nociones estáticas del género , representar la complejidad del racismo contemporáneo e ilustrar elementos del racismo
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