Thinking about equality, it is difficult for me to think of a time where equality will actually be achieved in this time and age. In my opinion, I believe media is a huge influence on realisation and acceptance. Mainstream media predominantly displays white people from TV shows and films to the fashion runway. In order to establish a world where we see people as equals, first we must acknowledge and create awareness that there is in fact Asians, Middle-Easterns and Africans all around us. Lacking diversity in the world only pushes us back into society where everything was black and white and narrow-minded. We want to be progressive and see race as something that only defines the differences in physical appearance between a person from (E.g.) Japan to someone from Congo.
Today, what we see is what we believe in. If what we are seeing is diversity within the media, we will become more appreciative of others around us - and see that they are also important.
I think encouraging diversity in the media is great, and one way forward. Unfortunately to attain a completely equal world, we would have to rewrite history and push the refresh button, but we can't. The damage has been done, and is still being done. The use of media as a catalyst for change and progression in awareness is one way to start to understand the extent of this damage. Unfortunately it is a slow process and in order to change reality, first people's attitudes, awareness and understandings need to change. A shift in focus on the disadvantages of Indigenous peoples to looking at privileges of Western, dominant groups may be another step forward in confronting the distorted system that White people are actively benefitting from.
ReplyDeleteBruce, nice read :) it is important for diversity and fair representation of all cultures. But history does reflect how people perceive the world, and as time passes accept it the way it is without questioning it. Hannah makes a good point that it would be a slow process and making people understand the need to change for a better tomorrow. I am wondering if the Flag Referendum can be used as an example. John Key wants New Zealand to have their own identity, but the nation has become accustomed to our original flag with the Union Jack on it. Whereas if people took the time to see the significance of the flag in reference to the Crown and the indigenous people in reference to the Treaty of Waitangi. They might think differently. Just something to make you think i guess.
ReplyDeleteNice :)Yeah I agree with what your saying, i wrote a post quite similar. Yeah i get what your saying... In my post i made the point that Pacific people are under represented the most in media and your blog just made me realize that we are because you left out Pacific Islanders which is a common mistake but yeah just wana let you know that in terms of representation and presence on screen Asians, middle easterns and Africans are far more represented than us Pacific Islanders and have better representations. So you should be somewhat empowered about that but yeah all over i enjoyed reading your blog post i like the personal feel that you had to it, and your perspective :) thanks for the read.
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