Since the beginning of film, the industry has typically been dominated by whites and the white narrative. However in the last couple decades we started to see a shift in the film industry. Before we had women as minor characters, which stereo typically played roles such as receptionists or assistants. We can see these outdated gender roles in films dominantly around the 1940s, but also in earlier productions like when the television was first introduced to the public in the 1920s.
It is interesting to see just how far television and film have developed over the years and while there have been bumps in the road the progression has started to steer in the right direction. I have discussed the importance of diversity and representation in the media, but let me take a minute to bring light to what we have seen to date that truly has impacted the lives of many just by showing empowering women, diversity, representation, and breaking stereotypes. Some of these films I hope that many of us have seen. Starting off with Wonder Woman being the first superhero that is a woman to have her own headline in a movie. Though the first airing of the film was in 1941 the DC universe kept finding ways to bring more light for women. Breaking down the barriers that women are fragile and timid by showing just how powerful women can be. My mother said to me that Wonder Woman was her favorite superhero and I used to wonder why. Now looking back I see that it was her who was one of the first women to show strength and bravery in film and that she was someone my mom looked up to as she grew up in the 70s. If we look at TV shows and other films from this century we can see that the progression has increased evermore! Shows are now being focused on women as the main character showing that they are capable of being in those leading roles. The Black community is doing significantly better in films now because these producers are taking their stories and making them award winning films. The LGBTQIA has also been an interesting change in our films, tv shows, games, etc. The media is becoming more diverse and that brings so much light and hope for the future . We even see in the film, The Help where a white woman is using her privilege to write about the Black women who work in white households (Taylor, 2011). This show not only represents a White person, but a White female with the power to tell the narrative of housekeepers in the 1960s. This shows the importance of the writer's character and usage of White privilege to break these societal barriers that women of color continue to have to overcome. In one of my other web blogs that I created for another class shines light on many communities of minorities that have not had as much air time as those of whites. Click this link to be taken to my other blog that highlights the importance of representation in the TV show, Jane the Virgin (Urman, 2015). https://bcisnerosjtvrepresentation.weebly.com/ Though there is an abundance of films out that have demonstrated the need for representation I cannot list them all here. I think it is important to understand that the newer generations are taking a stand towards these systemic issues and facing the hegemonic elite head on. The amount of explosions that show the progression in the media is truly inspirational. Resources: Campbell, R., Fabos, B., Frechette, J., Gomery, D., & Jensen, J. (2014). Media in society.Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. Taylor, T. (Director). (2011). The Help [Video file]. Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.amazon.com/Help-Emma-Stone/dp/B006G2124E/ref=sr_1_1?d child=1 Urman, J. (Director). (2015, October 12). Jane the Virgin [Video file]. Retrieved December 03, 2020, from https://www.netflix.com/title/80027158
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