3. 3
The Past
Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
Multiple examples of the
negative portrayal of African-
Americans in last 50 years
Similarities to today’s
sitcoms?
7. 7
The Future
Is TV Tokenism real?
If so, is it a problem?
If it is a problem, what, if anything, should be done?
How does it mirror the tokenism in our society?
What are some other examples you can cite?
8. 8
“Networks scrambled to create
more diverse casts after being
criticized by the NAACP three
years ago.”
SOURCE: “US Watches TV in Black and White”, Duncan Campbell in
The Guardian, 2/6/03
9. 9
Result? “TV Tokenism”
Dramas: Main Character is white or white-looking
Main Character is center of story-line (obviously)
Main Character is complex and can be morally
ambiguous (conflicted)
Main Character receives bulk of screen time
10. 10
Result? “TV Tokenism”
Dramas: Supporting Character is a “token” minority
Supporting character may be in a prestigious and/
or “buddy” position
Supporting character is rarely complicated
Supporting character receives little screen time or
relegated to subplots, only
13. 13
“LOST started out in Season 1
as an ethnically diverse show
with a lot of potentially
intriguing male and female
characters.”
14. 14
“Now it is, to a large degree, a
story about the epic, heroic or
anti-heroic journeys of a bunch
of white men.”
15. 15
“Non-white or female
characters — with a few
exceptions — just aren’t in the
foreground of the main
narrative most of the time.”
SOURCE: “Let’s Talk ‘Lost’: Mother Load”, Maureen Ryan in the
Chicago Tribune, 5/12/10
48. 48
“Black characters elicit
especially negative nonverbal
responses, such as facial
expressions & body language,
from other characters.”
SOURCE: Tufts Journal, “Lessons in Black and White” (January 6, 2010)
49. 49
“...and viewers exhibit more
racial bias after exposure to
such negative responses.”
SOURCE: Tufts Journal, “Lessons in Black and White” (January 6, 2010)
50. 50
“The takeaway message is that
bias can be contagious and
can be transmitted through
nonverbal behavior.”
SOURCE: Tufts Journal, “Lessons in Black and White” (January 6, 2010)
51. 51
Questions for Discussion
Is TV Tokenism real?
If so, is it a problem?
If it is a problem, what, if
anything, should be done?
What are some other
examples you can cite?
How does it mirror the
tokenism in our society?
52. 52
Thanks.
Kerry Brennan,
John S. O’Connor,
& Catherine Cristofani
Songs:
Public Enemy: “Burn, Hollywood, Burn”
Wilco: “Kicking Television”