Race And Ethnicity On Television

Race And Ethnicity On Television Television is a part of media, and media plays a very powerful role in the lives of people. The term media means a particular medium used to convey messages to an immense. Media, and for our case television has portrayed and influenced race and ethnicity across different cultures. Ideally, at the heart of social construction, one may think there is no such thing like race and ethnicity but scholars advocate that media has high contributions in creating personal sense of reality. Americas Next Top Model This is a reality TV series where in the past a number of women have contended for the crown of Americas Next Top Model. Currently, the show has taken a new twist by inviting men as well. It is a Tyras Banks creation taking the role of a producer, host and judge. Because of the changes, the winner of the reality show will be crowned Americas Next Top Model-Guys and Girls. Tyra also called Lynne was born on 4th Dec 1973 in Los Angeles. She was a top-notch fashion model and became the first black woman to appear on the cover page of Sport Illustrated swimsuit issue. The questions many people ask are, is Tyra black, white or of mixed race? What are her racial and ethnic compositions? Her parents are of African and American origin. At the age of 17yrs, Tyra gave modeling a first shot although the modeling agencies received with discrimination and rejection. She remembers one agency called her too ethnic while another said they had a black woman and were not interested in another. Because of her fame and ethnicity, she is googled over five hundred times monthly by prying fan across the universe. Further, the pry concerning her race and ethnicity have been fuelled by the color of her eyes and light skin, yet leaving some people and most her fans concluding she is a Caucasian. Naturally, Africans have somewhat brown eyes whilst other colors come about because of a genetic imperfection or blood relations with European relatives. Which of these assumptions applies to Tyra? Soon her fans will know when she will feature in a popular PBS TV series, Finding Your Roots. Renowned celebrities will have their DNA test in pursue of divulging main aspects concerning their nationality, ethnicity and race. The Cosby Show Bill Cosby created and produced this show. It literally salvaged the declining comedy genre from oblivion, NBCs. Its first appearance on television was 20th September 1984. It had so many fanatics such that by the end of its first season, the series was second most rated program in America. This enabled NBC to create other sitcom such as Friends, Frasier and Seinfeld. Cosby is the lead character in the series, playing the role of a triumphant obstetrician living in a magnificent house in Brooklyn with his wife Clair. The cast is a combination of African- American. To some extent, the show highlights on the racial aspects, for instance, Cosby thought Huxtables could have been a middle class family from a colored background. From a personal view, why did Cosby, an African- American had to play the role of the lead character? He has top-notch acting skills; was he passing a message to the rest of the races? Like, hey, look here, I am black, an amazing actor and successful producer? On the other hand, Cosbys universality and normality made the show win countless awards and named Americas most rated sitcom for five consecutive years. CNN-Cable News Network CNN is the largest broadcasting house based in the United States of America and was launched in 1980 by an America media guru called Ted Turner. CNN was and still is the first channel to present it viewers with news around the clock. Primarily, the news are broadcasted from its head office in Atlanta. However, it not always that all that glimmers is gold. CNN has had a major influence on race and ethnicity. For some reasons, most people believe the reason behind this is the company is based in America where cases of ethnicity and racism are most pronounced. By citing an example, I will use the 2012 Americas presidential elections. Most of the people around the world did not expect CNN to put this, Obama won the elections because he accumulated votes from some of the single-sided electoral population in a contemporary political history. Then the media went on to elucidate, by having a look at the breakdown of the elections, Obamas votes were acquired from 18-29 years at 60%, although most of them are unemployed and underemployed graduates. Further, his success was a contribution of the Africa-American with 93%, which was reported to be the same as 2008. Latinos were also not left out of the picture as a hasty growing population in America that voted Obama at 71% as well as Asian who immensely voted him in. Music Halley Berry Berry faced difficulties while growing up because of her biracial background. At times, she was torn between both extremes and her ethnicity. She remembered how they once lived in a black neighborhood and they dislike because her mother was white, and it was no better in the white neighborhood because she was black. It is for this reason she made an effort to be want other people like and what she wanted. She told Lesley O Toole of Evening Standard, if they wanted like a clown, I became one, and they needed straight As, I got them. Many of her schoolmates did not know Berry was not from a mixed parentage denying her mother was white. Such issues affected her and at the age of ten, she was in counseling and therapy sessions. Daytime Drama- The Young and the Restless Drucilla Winters Drucilla was an African-American actress playing a fictional role. In her role, she fell off the cliff and assumptions were that she must have died thus her body was never recovered. Away from the screen (Victoria Rowell) was dissatisfied with the soap opera calling it a soap of racist for not casting enough blacks and crew. She also accused the director for playing a deaf ear on her storylines. This made her leave the show, although she got back because of her fame, strong screen appeal and for the sake of her fans. Drama Law and Order This drama series highlights basic bedrocks of human rights as the opinion that every human being is born equivalent and free in distinction and rights. Its shows how discrimination and persecution based on ethnicity and race are lucid breach of these standards. Characters portrayed racial and ethnicity discrimination from the very brutal to institutional. The series shows some races and ethnic groups should not enjoy certain privileges such as social, cultural and political. Commercials Sports are part of a globalization because they connect people from different states across the world. However, in the commercials black athletes are not positively represented. Studies propose that racial stereotyping of black athletes in media is somehow hidden and systematic. For instance, white footballers are so acknowledge compared to the black to an extent their private lives are brought into limelight. This gives them a positive reputation whilst creating a negative one for blacks. This is well supported by the fact that, especially American footballers and baskets appear in cover page for magazine, and movies have shot in their respect such as Basketballers wives. For someone who is not an American, it would been easier for one to pivot the dispute on race, ethnicity and television wholly on whether and how colored individual have figure, on or back stage or in the viewers, is a missed point. Time after time, a lot has been projected without public fanfare but teeming countless programs, old movies, advertisements, sports, scenes and news is the genuineness and normalcy of societal whiteness. Television has been used to depict the mainstream of American religion, science, education systems, media, arts and theatre. According to what American TV depicts, United States is a white realm, with some marginalized ethnic additional (black men/boys, black women/girls, Latinos, Asians, and gays/lesbians). These minorities have been at their best when it is hard to ignore them such as carefully trained and respectful domestic helper, and gatemen. Still, I feel although the American television is trying to change, it has a long way to go. In its first two generations, it took over and spread daily and hourly traditions of its ethnic and race that outlined and maintained a racist state self-understanding. Perchance, this has proved to be more influential on the face of it being so central and foreseeable. Secondly, I evaluate the televisual dominancy of social whiteness itself because in most cases it has concentrated on African-American issues. In tandem, it has reviewed ethnicity and racism in American television. There is no need of downplaying decades of African-American experience with an intention of acknowledging the essence of original American states, Latinos, Asian-American and Chicanos in their every diversity. Thirdly, I have a strong conviction that television has led to racial stereotype among people differently. Social class is vital in this case. Some groups have been highlighted as triumphant among them Asian-American whilst the Jewish are claimed to have inability to make good of anything unlike Latinos and Africa-American. Americans with double originality, lingos and cultures are compressed into generic Indian remains of the past. Gender has highly contributed too: white stomachs are likely to expand at apparent hostile and brutal prone men of color, but ethnic marginal women are credible with pliancy, such that even white men assume their unusual sexual enthusiasm. Television has been able to create, maintain and stop racial stereotype. The initial step that television companies should understand is everyone has a race and an ethnicity background. Debates on race and ethnicity are not the best; they cause discomfort and even make people annoyed. The conversations are strained and at times even hard to commence and facilitate. For instance, research depict media bring African-Americans to light as unintelligent aggressive criminals. This has made Native Americans develop and maintain that believe hence, a hostile black prejudice. Others like Asian-American have a good reputation portrayed as model minorities who are noncontroversial, very industrious and politically laid back. Third world countries are the worst seen as naÃÆ'Â ¯ve, uncultured and have self-esteem. Therefore, that is rationalizing, upholding of generous paternalistic towards the ethnic groups. Media has encouraged the growth of racism and ethnicity. In America, the situation is twofold. The media puts demonstrates it as one can only be white or a person of color. Those of mixed descent are at no time allowed to confuse the issue, but they should come to terms to be of a minority cluster. On the other hand, those with personal cultural style stand a chance of understanding, whilst symbol of ethnic majority are traitors, hence warmly as the good extreme by many either of the whites, or sarcastically as self hating by the marginalized. The media has come forth with strategies to address on stereotypes and prejudice. It has employed approach based that clearly guides the audience how to be positive media consumers and the second one is message based approach which presents the participants with counter stereotypical news and stories disconfirm present cultural stereotype concerning group, their races and ethnicity backgrounds. Therefore, the availability of the two media-based approaches are considerable. To have a lasting solution, the media advises containing the application of stereotypes in personal situation is the first step. Media consumers should also be provided with tools to lessen stereotype activation. Stereotype activation is far much difficult to reduce compared stereotype application. People might be in a position to repress stereotype depending on the automatic or malleable perception and attitudes. In what I would to term as controversial, repeatedly, the television is in denial that a person is exposed to dangers of discrimination because of race and ethnicity background. It denies that not a single person has suffered discrimination because of his or her color, hair texture or language. From the same media we have women raped because they are black or a sickly discharged child from the hospital because she is Latino. In fact, the advice it is offering is, if color is posing problems, then one can change it to be what they like. Colored people have often tried modifications because they are brainwashed white is superior and the problem lies in their skins. From a different perceptive, the problem has never been and will never be the skin color but the systems that account for wickedness against others then substantiate it blaming it on the victims. It does not matter if one black, white or blonde. The skin color is not a reason enough to steer discrimination, but the negative meaning given to the skin color is almost winning the debate. Additionally, color is unprejudiced; only the minds state can give it a meaning. Such ideological procedures justify inequality by seeking faults in the victims. Conclusion What I have learnt is the United States of America is not only a multicultural realm, but also one with differences with its values of freedom, liberty, justice, taboos and morals. For their meaning should not be based on the hair texture, skin color, language accent, gender and clothing. The meaning should have cultural and social-religious values inherited from one generation to another. If a meaning is negative, then it creates a feeling of superiority between groups leading to prejudice and acts of discrimination hence racism and social construction of power in the society and institutions that would otherwise be of positive impacts to individuals. Human beings should love, respect and treat each other well irrespective race, social class, ethnicity background or gender. It is egocentric and uncouth when one race refers to the other as menial, useless or handkerchief.

Backround of a Language Learner

Nazrahdin (Nas) moved from his native Algiers to the United States in a quest to gain live a better life and to be able to make enough money to send some back to his family each month. His uncle Talib has lived in America for seven years and was the main reason Nas made the move. Nas is currently working as a valet attendant at a hotel. His language proficiency is quite high. He is fully bilingual with Arabic and French and he can also understand a bit of Spanish. His English abilities are elementary.That being said, when speaking with him he is quite effective at communicating his ideas through non-verbal methods and patience. He is eager and willing to be taught and he always has questions to ask. Currently his uncle and aunt are the main sources of information and teaching when it comes to English. At work Nas does not interact with customers, except when absolutely necessary. He is not comfortable enough with the language and his coworkers do not want him to converse with custome rs due to his limitations with English.For this reason Nas is beginning to read and listen to English lessons in an attempt to gain fluency. He wants to become comfortable enough with the language within the next six months so as to be able to interview for a public transportation job through the city. He did not have to interview for the valet position because his uncle worked him into the job. With his enthusiasm and track record of learning other languages, his goal is well within reach.When I interviewed Nas and asked him about what his ultimate goal is, he replied, â€Å"Really I want money for family that I work for so I can buy me a home here to live. † His ideas come across quite clearly and the thing I noticed most about this statement was not the broken grammar, but the clarity of though and the seriousness with which he delivered his ambition. He maintains eye contact and uses his hands to emphasize his points. I notice his non-verbal connotations almost more than his verbal cues, especially when he is speaking in Arabic with Talib.They are both very animated and outgoing and their arms are in constant motion when they are speaking. They also use intonation to great effect so that even though I do not understand a word of Arabic, I can fairly accurately gauge the tones and attitude of what they are talking about. In this way, I think the main goals that we will work for in our English lessons will be to translate that non-verbal communication into everyday expressions in English. Nas, at least at this point, is not interested in the finer details of grammar and lexicon.What he most wants is to ‘tell a good joke that people smile. ’ He wants to become conversational. He does not need nor want to learn academic rules. He wants to be able to meet a stranger and be able to talk to them. He wants to be able to fulfill his objectives at work. He wants to be able to secure his own job and not to rely on Talib. Mostly, he wants to become more than just a card-carrying American citizen, he wants to exercise his mind and rights through the use of English.That being said, we will face obstacles in the implementation of this new language because it is not related to the romance languages of French and Spanish and it definitely has little in common with the rhythmic Arabic of his native language. We will begin by integrating cross-cultural themes that draw connections between his life in Algeria and here in the U. S. His mind is already developed and he has been successful in his endeavors up to this point. I do not want to tutor him like I would a younger person.I think a great way for us to move forward will be to watch television and movies that have similar interests as well as subtitles, whether in Arabic, French, or Spanish. I want to cultivate a multi-disciplinary approach that focuses on getting ideas to translate more than having them be perfectly grammatical, especially considering that most conversational Eng lish does not abide by the rules of the book of grammar, even to native speakers. I think we will have greater success in implanting English into Nas’ everyday life because he already has the model of his Uncle Talib.Talib had learned English in less than a year after moving the America. Like Nas, he had a very limited knowledge of the language beyond a few expressions before moving here. Nas has the added advantage of already holding a job where he is surrounded by native English speakers and Talib. Whenever Nas cannot grasp what we are talking about in English, he and Talib discuss it together in Arabic and then Nas will come back to the discussion and reiterate his opinion.I am confident that Nas will succeed in his goal to learn English in order to gain full-time employment that utilizes his language skills. He has a positive example to base his optimism and he is one of the most fearless non-native English speakers I have met when it comes to trying to speak in a languag e you are not fluent in. The fact that he will continue to ask questions, to continue to make mistakes and to continue applying himself is an accomplishment unto itself and yet he does not cut corners. This makes the tutoring process not only easier, but much more enriching for all involved parties.

Bad Eating Habits

Judging from the tidal waves of low-fat foods washing up on supermarket shelves and the proliferation of health clubs popping up in cities, one would think that America has become the land of the lean and the home of the fit. However, this is not the case at all. The obesity problem is rising to epidemic proportion. It is beginning to spawn health problems and is even growing everyday. There are more and more people who are acquiring bad eating habits because of a lot of factors. The problem has gone to alarming proportions and it is time that experts on nutrition join hands to look more closely at the causes of these bad eating habits.People need to be more conscious about their increasing weight. As one eats, one becomes aware of how he/she feels when satisfied. When one is full and stuffed, one must decide to stop eating whenever he/she hits the full mark. People hear a lot of advises and one very good advice is â€Å"If you eat only when you are hungry and stop when you are sati sfied, then your body will reach its optimal weight. † However, this might be easily said than done for the statistics of overweight people continue to rise.Because of rising health costs, food experts say that we are essentially subsidizing the food industry to peddle junk food to kids. This is not that easy though since regulation is not an ideal solution. Multi-national corporations like Unilever, Pepsi and Coke had all voluntarily changed their products and practices to respond to clamor for growing health concerns. There was the pressure on them to do their own regulation in coming up with better, healthier foods. It was even revealed that Unilever was asked to reduce trans-fatty acids in their products. Unilever’s response was dramatic.It eliminated them altogether (World Economic Forum). However, Dr. Marion Nestle feels that poor nutrition is the ultimate reason for obesity. Diets lacking calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients tremendously affect the weight gain or loss of a teen’s fat cells. Dr. Bedell, agrees with the findings. † Any family below the poverty level has an incredible amount of outside stress,† she said. † If there’s no education of nutrition, it’s a matter of surviving emotionally and physically. † (Gard MC, 1996). Concern is expressed over the person’s tendency to eat between meals.However, the choice of foods is much more important than the time or place or eating. Fresh vegetables and fruits as well as whole grain products are needed to complement the foods high in energy value and protein that adolescents commonly choose. Similarly, a special concern in cultures today is the amount of fat in the diet. This person in study who has a low budgeted food is not exempted. She virtually lives on fast-food meals, which contributes to the increased fat levels in their diet. The average adolescent, though, does not worry about getting enough protein.What is of more concern is t he vast number of adolescents who consume large quantities of fast foods such as French fries and burgers, that are not only high in protein but high in fat (Drake, 2006). To illustrate this further, statistics show the fact that the average teenager watches approximately 22,000 commercials – 5,000 of them for food products, the majority of which are high-sugar, high-calorie, and low-nutrition items. Research indicates that 67 percent of Saturday morning commercials are for sugared cereals, candy bars, and other sweets. Only 3 percent of TV food ads are for fruits and vegetables (Medical News Today).Considering that some members of the average family watch more than seven hours of TV per day, it is not surprising that contemporary research indicates that human development and behavior are affected by television to a degree far exceeding earlier judgments (Robinson, T. , 1999). Promoting healthy diet and exercise remains one of the most challenging goals in today’s mode rn world. REFERENCES Drake, L. (26 April 2006). The USDA Food Guide Pyramid: New and Improved? Gard MC, Freeman CP, (1996), The dismantling of a myth: a review of eating disorders and socioeconomic status.Int J Eat Disord (1996), 20(1):1-12. Medical News Today, (13 May 2004). 10% of the world’s children are overweight or obese and the figures are rising Article Retrieved Feb. 12, 2006 at: http://www. medicalnewstoday. com/medicalnews. php? newsid=8277 Reducing the Size of the Obesity Problem, World Economic Forum, Jan. 24, 2004, Retrieved Feb. 12, 2007 at: http://www. weforum. org/site/knowledgenavigator. nsf/Content/_S10222? open&industry_id= Robinson, T. Reducing children’s television viewing to prevent obesity: A randomized controlled trial, Journal of the American Medical Association 1999: 282: 1581-1587

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