How the media shapes the way we view the world - BBC REEL

Summary

The video script highlights the profound influence of storytelling on identity and behavior, emphasizing the role of media and advertising in perpetuating racial stereotypes. It discusses the underrepresentation of Black British actors and the harmful tropes stemming from colonialism and slavery, such as the 'mammy' and the 'angry black man.' The script calls for critical engagement with media to challenge biases and encourages diverse storytelling to reflect the true multiplicity of Black identities.

Takeaways

• 📚 Storytelling is a powerful tool across cultures and has the ability to shape identities and influence behaviors.
• 🧠 Stories we hear can interact with our biology, as our brains use shortcuts to simplify and organize information.
• 🎭 The narrative we tell and are told can perpetuate prejudice and is often dominated by a few voices, leading to skewed representations.
• 🇬🇧 The British Film Institute found a significant underrepresentation of Black British actors in UK roles from 2006 to 2016.
• 🚫 Lack of representation can impose limitations on individuals' aspirations and allow negative perceptions to go unchallenged.
• 🎬 Common racialized tropes in media can be traced back to colonialism, historic anti-blackness, and the legacy of slavery.
• 👮‍♂️ A disproportionate number of crime narratives in UK films feature Black actors, reinforcing stereotypes.
• 👩‍🦱 Stereotypes like 'the mummy', 'the jezebel', and 'the angry black woman' are harmful and historically dehumanizing.
• 🏆 Even award-winning performances, like Hattie McDaniel's in 'Gone with the Wind', can perpetuate harmful racial stereotypes.
• 📺 Modern media continues to present racist caricatures influenced by colorism, affecting how Black individuals are perceived.
• 🌈 Media has the power to challenge and change perceptions, and it's important to question who is telling the story and for whom.
• 💪 Storytellers should aim to provide platforms for diverse voices to tell their own stories and shape their own identities.

Q & A

What is the significance of storytelling in shaping our identities and behaviors according to the script?

Storytelling has significant power globally, as the stories we are told through various mediums build identities, determine behaviors, and forge our dreams. They interact with our biology, impacting how we view the world and make meaning from what we perceive.

How do our brains process the constant influx of information and data?

Our brains need shortcuts to simplify and organize the constant stream of information and data. These shortcuts, or narratives, influence our perception and interpretation of the world around us.

What is the potential impact of the narrative we tell and are told on societal beliefs?

The narrative has the potential to create and perpetuate prejudice beliefs, especially when storytelling is dominated by a few, allowing for the reinforcement of stereotypes and biases.

What did the British Film Institute find regarding representation of black British actors in UK films from 2006 to 2016?

The British Film Institute found that out of around 45,000 roles credited to actors in the UK, only 0.5% were played by black British actors, indicating a significant underrepresentation.

How does the lack of representation in media affect individuals from underrepresented groups?

Not seeing oneself represented in media often leads to self-imposed limitations on what one can achieve and allows for negative perceptions to go unchallenged.

What are some recurring racialized tropes in UK crime films that can be traced back to colonialism and slavery?

Recurring racialized tropes include the 'mummy', 'jezebel', 'angry sassy black woman', 'stoic', 'gangster', 'angry black man', and 'black best friend', which were created by white storytellers to dehumanize and erase the multiplicity of black people's existence.

Why was the film 'Gone with the Wind' removed from HBO Max and later republished with disclaimers?

The film was removed due to its racist depictions, particularly the portrayal of Hattie McDaniel's character as a loyal, subservient caregiver. It was later republished with disclaimers about the historical context and warnings about racial stereotypes.

What is colorism, and how does it influence on-screen storytelling?

Colorism is the prejudice treatment of those within the black community who have darker skin. It influences on-screen storytelling by often favoring characters with lighter skin or proximity to whiteness, which can increase their social standing and perceived likability.

How does the use of mixed-race or light-skinned characters in media sometimes serve to uphold racist perceptions?

Using mixed-race or light-skinned characters can be a superficial way to appear diverse without critically engaging with anti-black bias, as it often constructs and upholds the idea that proximity to whiteness equates to higher social standing and likability.

What is the average amount of time an American spends consuming media daily, and what does this imply about media's power to shape perceptions?

As of 2018, the average American spends over 11 hours a day with media. This implies that mass media has a significant power to challenge and change perceptions on a daily basis.

What is the script's call to action for both consumers and creators of media regarding representation and storytelling?

The script encourages consumers to question whose voice is telling the story and who it is representing. For storytellers, it calls for giving platforms and voices to people to tell their own stories and shape their own identities, to show the endless possibilities of who black people can be.