Title: The Importance of Representation in Film and Media | by Lauren Washington | Medium
Headings: The Importance of Representation in Film and Media
The Importance of Representation in Film and Media
Content: The Importance of Representation in Film and Media | by Lauren Washington | Medium
The Importance of Representation in Film and Media
Lauren Washington
Dec 29, 2019 · 16 min read
A short film exploring why diverse representation is needed in the entertainment and media industries with interviews from professionals and young kids. Imagine the first time when young children see a superhero or an astronaut on screen whose image loo k s like them. It is 2018, and for some kids, the historic moment of seeing Black Panther was their first time seeing a superhero of color on screen. Better yet, this groundbreaking film which has netted over $900 million dollars, could have been the first time seeing a predominantly black cast with a black director, black costume designers, black hairstylists, and more, actively producing representation in a positive light. Sandra Bullock’s astronaut character, Dr. Ryan Stone, in the 2013 film, Gravity, may have been the first occasion when young girls witnessed both a female astronaut and scientist on screen. The content our society views on screen is supposed to reflect its people, but all too often the entertainment and media industries tend to marginalize people of color, and women, just to name a few. Stories affect all areas of life in terms of how people view themselves, how they live their lives, and how they see others. Some of the content that these industries distribute to the public remains the only form of representation some individuals see, and these portrayals may be accurate or inaccurate. Media depicts stereotypical representations for people of color and women, whether through Hollywood or on the news, as violent criminals, the help, terrorists, submissive characters, highly sexualized beings, unintelligent people, and more. Similarly, there are concerns for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) populations and depictions of disabled persons.