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Diversity in media
HOW THE THINGS WE WATCH AFFECT THE WAY WE LIVE
BY WILLIAM FARRIS
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
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The topic of cultural diversity and
better representation in media is one
today that sparks as much thought and
intrigue as it does apprehension. It’s
no secret that good representation of
minority groups has been a struggle in
our culture, and it’s no surprise that
many people can have trouble talking
about these issues.
Much of the media industry for a
long time in America was dominated
by white middle class usually male
individuals, and for the most part still
is. But in recent years there has been a
cultural push for better, more positive
representation of all people in art that
has been driven by many artists of many
backgrounds coming into the spotlight.
With the Oscars coming up and many
nominees like “Black Panther” and Spike
Lee’ s “ BlacKkKlansman” displaying
more diversity in their subject matter
and casts than in the past, it begs
tha question of how important media
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"The media can
basically reinforce
harmful prejudicial
views [and]
stereotypes, but it
can also play a role in
combating them..."
-Brian Don
diversity is to daily life.
According to Brian Don, more diversity
is incredibly important, especially in
our current climate. “ The ways that
members of different racial, ethnic and
any type of group, the way that people
are portrayed is going to influence
perceptions of different groups, so it ’ s
going to influence stereotypes,” Don
said.
How people view other groups is
influenced by a number of places from
ClackamasPrint
education to real life interactions, but lives and the societal views that are held.
media can also influence how we see CCC, is striving to be a more inclusive
people and negative representations place for all people and in recent years
can create prejudice.
has started numerous committees and
“ The media can basically reinforce programs to accomplish that, but the
harm ful prejudicial views [and] biggest force for improved diversity
stereotypes, but it can also play a role is how inclusive the student and staff
in combating them, and that’s kind of populations are. Considering the public
the promising side of things,” Don said. and political strife that is currently
Being able to see positive and realistic consuming the country concerning
representations of people can make it issues of race and culture, a more
easier to understand different groups. inclusive community on campus could
The biggest reason many harmful be just what people need.
ideologies exist is because individuals
Jennifer Jett, who works with the
have a hard time understanding or theater department at CCC, expresses
empathizing with others. Art has the her desire to see more diversity on
Photos of Jinyoung Park above,
ability to show individuals stories and campus. “Were trying to incorporate it ànd Jennifer Jett below.
help people understand them better, it more into our show” says Jett, “ and I
can help normalize diversify in society think it’s kind of a general, were getting
and cultural acceptance,
there, but I don’t know if it’s enough
It’s alsd importantfor people of any yet. But it’s getting better”
background to see representations of
With race, sexuality, gender and many
who they are. I t ’ s not difficult for other aspects of society continuing to be
anyone to relate to characters like Iron hotly discussed today, many who, fall into
man, Captain America or Black Widow minority groups can feel disenfranchised
despite how different they are from or alone in society. While the media
normal people. But it’s still nice to see we consume won’t solve these issues,
a character that represents something it can* help people of all walks of life
you are, that you can look up to and can feel more included; a diverse media can
be an inspiration.
help others understand and be more
The recent movie “ Spider-M an: accepting of people from every walk
Into.the Spider-Verse” had the main of life.
character Miles Morales, an energetic
kid who feels pressure to live up to
people’ s expectatiqns for him and
aspires to be just like the heroes in his
life; he’s also a biracial and bilingual
student who lives in New York with a
black father and a Puerto Rican mother.
Miles is a relatable character that
anyone can see a little bit of themselves
in , but his background means that
people with sim ilar experiences in
their lives can relate and see some of
themselves in him.
Jinyoung Park, the officer of the
Multicultural Center and international
study at Clackamas Community College,
said, “ I believe that diversity is very
important, arid being an international
student, I think that it’s very necessary
to be represented so people know that
we,are here and that we exist also.”
Diversity in the media people consume" Official movie posters for "Spiderman into the Spider-Verse" on the
can have a direct impact oil people’s right and "BlacKkKlansman" on the left.
th e c la c k a m a s p rin t.c o m
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