THE recent death of Chadwick Boseman, lead actor in Black Panther, struck me on two counts.

On a personal level, my father also succumbed to colon cancer a little over a year ago.

Secondly, Black Panther marks to me, as a Marvel fan, an important milestone of having a predominantly black cast and crew, as well as shattering negative stereotypes of African-Americans on celluloid. Breaking the box office, this movie has proven to the movie industry and the world that diversity sells.

For a long time, Hollywood has been indulging in “whitewashing”, a practice where white actors were cast in non-white roles. It is indeed refreshing to watch a movie that showcases African-American characters in a non-discriminating and relatable manner, just as how the movie Crazy Rich Asians became a beacon of Asian representation in mainstream Hollywood.

The world and societies and cultures in it are often perceived through a camera lens. Hence, the media shape and influence the attitudes and beliefs of their recipients. This explains how for decades, minorities have been under-represented or prejudiced against by their stereotypical portrayals in the media.

Most mainstream films and TV dramas reinforce, rather than challenge, stereotypes as they appeal to the majority audience and thus, easier to sell. Unfortunately, this filmic approach distorts the perceptions about certain minority groups.

Racial minorities are often portrayed as sidekicks, villains and sex symbols. The male gender is often associated with masculinity, while females are usually portrayed as the weaker sex, thereby creating a gender bias. Ageism also exists where the elderly are usually depicted as stubborn and old-fashioned, while the youth are often the inexperienced young whippersnappers not up to the task.

We have come a long way since those one-dimensional on-screen portrayals, as more mainstream media start to acknowledge and tackle stereotyping. It is a good start, but stereotyping clichés still linger.

In today’s media-saturated world, thanks to the internet, it is imperative that we examine the role the media play in perpetuating stereotypes, be they racial, ethnic, age, or gender.

The media have the power to not only influence people’s desires, but also shape opinions, beliefs and even political attitudes. If done skilfully, it might lead to the general public accepting certain changes in social norms.

For example, the US action hit TV drama 24, which debuted in 2001, featured a successful African-American president David Palmer, played by actor Dennis Haysbert in a supporting role. What differentiates it from other portrayals is that Palmer is confident, charismatic, competent in the face of danger, judicious and carries all the best traits one could wish for in a president.

Word has it that this fictional president might have opened the eyes of the viewers to possibly having a black president, thus helping to pave the way for Barack Obama in 2008.

Film and TV have actually played a role in hatching the idea of having a coloured person to helm the highest office of the free world, who eventually was well accepted.   

As a young person, I have a secret wish that one day there would be a film or TV show that showcases a successful young political figure, free from all the ageism clichés, and is embraced by society.

Those who consume much media are more susceptible to media messages. The media tend to shape the perspectives of growing children and form their impressions of the world. For adults, media entertainment serves as escapism, but at the same time its messages can also impact them.
 
That is why positive and accurate representation is important. It is crucial that our children will not grow up trying to be what they are not owing to misconception of societal norms, because they grow up thinking that their lineage or background is less privileged than that of others. We want them to be able to find their role models, or someone on TV and in the movies that they can relate and look up to. 

Media misrepresentation can help shape the way people think about others. My exposure to western movies in my younger days helped to conceptualise westerners as people who were superior to Asians in every way. Those movies made me want to settle in a country like the US so that I would be able to experience the American Dream and succeed in life.

In fact, I secretly wished that I was not born into this part of the world – until I started to understand and appreciate my culture, my country, as well as the concept of diversity.

Such is the impact of media stereotypes and misrepresentation on me that I often perceive Afghanistan, for instance, as a country that is riven with war, terrorism and political turmoil as portrayed in movies. In reality, it has breath-taking natural scenery, among others, that is waiting to be discovered by outsiders like me.

As media consumers, we, therefore, need to equip ourselves with media and digital literacy to avoid falling victim to biased and distorted media representation. The world has to be seen as much as humanly possible for what it really is. – September 7, 2020.
 

* Kelvin Lee is a member of Agora Society. Both a dreamer and realist, he is constantly figuring out ways to balance the two. He believes that by defying the norm, one can pave the way for a better future.