History+of+Media+Portrayal+of+Ethnic+Groups


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Throughout history, different ethnic groups have been portrayed in different ways, both positively and negatively. It may not always be through the media, but it is at the heart of most stereotypes and negative or positive portrayals in this world.

Stereotypes have long been around in the United States, starting with stereotypes and negative portrayals of African-Americans. In the 1800's, there were minstrel shows. These theater productions featured white actors who used burnt cork, shoe polish, or greasepaint to give themselves the appearance of being black. The minstrel shows portrayed blacks as being lazy, ignorant, joyous, and superstitious. They also showed blacks as being the musical type. Other minstrel shows questioned whether blacks were fit to run for office or vote.

An early Asian stereotype was the evil Asian. A specific character was Dr. Fu Manchu. He was a character in a series of novels written by Arthur Sarsfield Ward under the pseudonym of Sax Rohmer. A quote about him from a book: "Imagine a person, tall, lean and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan, a close-shaved skull, and long, magnetic eyes of the true cat-green. Invest him with all the cruel cunning of an entire Eastern race, accumulated in one giant intellect, with all the resources of science, past and present... Imagine that awful being, and you have a mental picture of Dr. Fu Manchu, the yellow peril incarnate in one man." –//The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu//. That quote summed up the general portrayal of Asians.

As time went on, stereotypes and unfair portrayals became more common. In the 50's, 60's, and 70's Norman Lear appeared in many television shows that featured stereotypes. //The Simpsons//, which negatively portrays and stereotypes many ethnic groups, was first broadcast in 1987. It started out as a minute-long segment on //The Tracy Ullman Show//. Matt Groening submitted his base sketches to the animators of the show, who just traced over his sketches. This became the way //The Simpsons// looked.

Besides minstrel shows, Dr. Fu Manchu, Norman Lear, and //The Simpsons//, there have been a countless number of negative portrayals of just about every ethnic group. From blacks being seen as violent gang members, or Arabs being seen as terrorists, this all stems from the media. And despite how there are a number of people fighting this, it is, sadly, most likely here to stay.

Resources- http://www.answers.com/topic/african-american-stereotypes [|http://www.answers.com/topic/fu-manchu-]