Satuarday 13th October 2012 Does the British media relfect the modern, mutlticultural nature of British Society?
Post-modernists will argue that society has become very diverse with a range of different ethncities and different religions. I agree to a certain extent that the British Media does reflect the modern, multicultural nature of British society to some extent. The focus of this essay will be on the debate of how society in Britain is becoming more diverse or is it still holding the same traditional white-ethnic minority norms and values in everything. This includes sports, news, education, work, politices and in the media. I will therefore discuss the issues ethnic minorties have faced and weither they are at benefit or not.
Firstly, I agree that British media reflects the modern society as being multicultural as we can see this thorugh the use of soap opera's. An example canbe the character types (Vladimir Propp) in the British science fiction television series Doctor who. The old series had included a white ethnic background character which was Billie Piper however, this had changed into a medical student named Marther Jones who is a mixed-race character playing the role of a medical student. This could suggest that by transforming ethnic minorities it is also targeting a wider target audience as to the soap opera becoming more diverse. Another advantage can be that it is enabling different background to take part in the most well known soap operas watched. Also, it enables mixed-race audiences to relate to the character as they can identify with the reactions and background (Uses and gratification 1972 Blumler and Katz). This shows that the British Media reflects the modern, multicultural nature of British Society. However, by doing this it is making Britain a much more multicultural country where soap opera's can relate to every ethnic race not just one dominant one. However, this can be critised by The Independant newspaper this is because they argued that people who are not white still face negative consequences in today's society.
On the other hand, some may argue that British media reflects the modern, multicultrual nature of British society as being negative. An example can be by The Independant newspaper. They had argued that many ethnic minorities in Britian face innocent deaths just because they are not being the dominant race- White. An example can the murder of Anuj Bidue who was a 23 year old student that had been killed for tha apparant crime of not being white. This could link to Frantz Fanon thoery of ( putting on the white mask) as they must act White in order to survive and be successful in today's society, by carry out the typical norms and values that White ethnic backgrounds perform. This shocking story can also connote how British society is still not showing the multi-cultural side and still hasn't changed after Stephen Lawrence death in 1993 which had raised such big controversy. However, it could also have a oppostional reading (Stuart Hall) that Britain is still a colour blind country which has not developed much in diversity and still want to remain as being a country which only has white dominant figures playing the main role in everything. However, this can be critisized as some may argue that Britain does reflect the modern, multicultural nature of British society as it does through entertainment shows such as X-factor.
Incontrast, diversity is denotated (Barthes) through the reality and talent show X-factor which is broadcasted in chanels ITV1. This chanel targets over 12 million viewers and reaches out to it's primary target audience who are 16-34 year olds (74%) and 81% A,B,C1 a it's secondary target audiences. X-factor finals for 2012 was viewed by 13.1million viewers. This show has an increase in viewving every year which could be seen as a preffered reading that maybe because it represents Britian as a multicultural country this is why more people view it as they can all relate to it (Uses and gratfication-Blumler and Katz). An example of x-factor having a diversity of religions can be when a sikh guy had won the finals, having a sikh ethnic minorty on the show is a unique idea as it show that television has started to accept other dominant religions as well. Also, it can be beneficial to have a range of different ethnicities on the show as it can entertain the audiences for what they perform, inform something that they were never aware of and educate them about something that they never have learnt before. Also, audience can relate to the specific talent that the person is performing (Uses and gratification- Blumler and Katz). An advantage of this is that i is showing how different ethnciites are challenging each other with their talents and that they are connoting that British media is multicultural were ethnicities can challenge eachother. On the other hand, this can be critisized as ethnic minorities stil face harsher punishment in crime and are let down in the education system.
Inaddition, I disagree that the British media reflects on the moder, multicultural nature of society as mainly Black and Asian Backgrounds are mostley to face harsher punishment. This could connote how they are trying to improsen Black and Asian communties more so that they cannot acheive the higher status. An example can be that Black ethnicties are 26times more likely to be stopped by the police and are less likely to be accepted in employment and education. This is because they are stereotyped as negatively and as deviants which prevent police to specifically target these main youths in the streets. This is a very biased view of the police as Black and Asian ethnic minorities face harsher punishments compared to white ethnic minorities but who recieves the harsher punishment? Black and Asian. This shows that the court and police give a much more fair view to White backgrounds than any other background. Which enables the audiences to think as a preffered reading that Britian is not representing itself as a modern, multicultural country due to it not allowing punishments given out equally. An example can be that in 2002 23% White ethnicties recieved punishment for crime, 27% Black and 29% Asian which connotes that whoever is not White recieved a harsher punishment. On the other hand, this could be critisized as Britain is becoming a modern, multicultural society due to the London Riots.
Furthermore, Britain has presented itself as being a modern and multicultural society due to the shocking event in 2011- The London Riots. This serious incident has represented Britain as a multicultural and modern society. An example can be that by the use of fast technology and smartphones, teenagers had acessed Facebook and Twitter in order to spread the message of Looting throug their community much quickly (Global villiage-Mcluhan). This therefore represents Britain as a modern society, however the use of Black, Asian, Pakistani and White Minorities all mugging from the shop and vandalizing other people property was a way of representing Britain as a multicultural society. As suggested by Gurbux singh he had argued that " Interacial violece was there and when you have young people disaffected, who feel they are right at the bottom competeing with another community." This could as a oppositional reading (Stuart Hall) connote how there are different hirachy of class and who has the best job e.g. mainly British White upper class men. This could connote that young people felt that not purchasing legatimely capitalist goods through advertisment was a way for them to go looting. Therefore, they had to get their needs through illegitmate needs, this could be maybe they are envious towards how the top jobs in the world are mainly headed by another dominant race. The London Riots therefore was a good way to express diversity through culture, race and through their actions. This can also link with Frantz Fanons theory of how typically Black stereotypes can be decivilize meaning they are the gansters and p.i.m.p that are doing illegal actions and breaking society laws in order to maybe prove that they too exsist in Britain's multicultural society.However, I agree to a certain extent that Britain isn't becoming a modern, multicultural society this is because of the diverse music and Comprehensive schools.
An example of the above can be that music in Britain is one of the best way to distribute your music. This is because Britain has a variety of different ethnic minorities who like to listen to a variety of different music. An example can be Indian, Pakistani, Rnb, hiphop, Grime, oldschool, rock and many more. Each genre targets different minorities and each artist targets different ages. An example of Britain becoming a multicultural society is through the use of modern artists Rihanna and Dizzie rascal ( and different ethnic minorities appearing in the Hollywood industry such as Dev Patel and Sophie Okenedo. As an oppositional reading (Stuart Hall) some may argue that these ethnic minorities are putting on a white mask in order to become who they want. For example the actress Sophie Okenedo in some films her hair is curly but in some it is straight which could link to Frantz Fanon that she is putting on the white mask even though she is mixed race in order to become more successful among the other minorities, this could link to Alvarado's (1987) that it is exotic that different races are becming more common in Britain e.g. mixed raced families. In contrast this could be critisized as Britain is becoming more diverse through the educaitonsystem and the Olympics to a certain extent .
An example of the above can be that before in the 19th century Black minorities faced a lot of racial prejudice in the the education system. However, this has changed as Britain have more comprehensive schools that is for every ethnic minority. This could therefore represent Britain as being a modern, multicultural society which has developed both in sports and education. An example can be the Olympics ceremony in 2012 this had a variety of cultures competing against each other. A example of Britain becoming a diverse and multicultral society is through the use of different languages used in the voice over. This could connote that every ethnic background is performing in this well know event. This could link with Blumler and Katz theory of identfication as every race is part of this event e.g. music scene which represents this event as being multicultural. On the other hand, this could be critisized as the events mostely performed were by other minorities and less of the Asian community like Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi which does not represent Britain as a modern and multucultural society again.
In conclusion, I agree to a certain extent that British media relfect the modern, mutlticultural nature of British Society. For example in 2002 the newspapers were written from 96% a white jounalist, which represents how diversity was little then. However, now Black and Asian acotrs are taking leading role in prime time t.v. were a nuclear family sits together and watches maybe the most common soap operas which therefore represents British media become more modern and mutlicultural. However, this could be critisized as mostley the media stereotype and represent Black ethnic minorities in newspapers as being deviants and unsuccesful who are mostley labelled as dumb and thick by teachers (Labelling theory Becker 1971). This therefore represents Britains media s being biased towards other minorities not giving them an opportunties to be successful like the white ethnic minorities in today's Britain society.
Post-modernists will argue that society has become very diverse with a range of different ethncities and different religions. I agree to a certain extent that the British Media does reflect the modern, multicultural nature of British society to some extent. The focus of this essay will be on the debate of how society in Britain is becoming more diverse or is it still holding the same traditional white-ethnic minority norms and values in everything. This includes sports, news, education, work, politices and in the media. I will therefore discuss the issues ethnic minorties have faced and weither they are at benefit or not.
Firstly, I agree that British media reflects the modern society as being multicultural as we can see this thorugh the use of soap opera's. An example canbe the character types (Vladimir Propp) in the British science fiction television series Doctor who. The old series had included a white ethnic background character which was Billie Piper however, this had changed into a medical student named Marther Jones who is a mixed-race character playing the role of a medical student. This could suggest that by transforming ethnic minorities it is also targeting a wider target audience as to the soap opera becoming more diverse. Another advantage can be that it is enabling different background to take part in the most well known soap operas watched. Also, it enables mixed-race audiences to relate to the character as they can identify with the reactions and background (Uses and gratification 1972 Blumler and Katz). This shows that the British Media reflects the modern, multicultural nature of British Society. However, by doing this it is making Britain a much more multicultural country where soap opera's can relate to every ethnic race not just one dominant one. However, this can be critised by The Independant newspaper this is because they argued that people who are not white still face negative consequences in today's society.
On the other hand, some may argue that British media reflects the modern, multicultrual nature of British society as being negative. An example can be by The Independant newspaper. They had argued that many ethnic minorities in Britian face innocent deaths just because they are not being the dominant race- White. An example can the murder of Anuj Bidue who was a 23 year old student that had been killed for tha apparant crime of not being white. This could link to Frantz Fanon thoery of ( putting on the white mask) as they must act White in order to survive and be successful in today's society, by carry out the typical norms and values that White ethnic backgrounds perform. This shocking story can also connote how British society is still not showing the multi-cultural side and still hasn't changed after Stephen Lawrence death in 1993 which had raised such big controversy. However, it could also have a oppostional reading (Stuart Hall) that Britain is still a colour blind country which has not developed much in diversity and still want to remain as being a country which only has white dominant figures playing the main role in everything. However, this can be critisized as some may argue that Britain does reflect the modern, multicultural nature of British society as it does through entertainment shows such as X-factor.
Incontrast, diversity is denotated (Barthes) through the reality and talent show X-factor which is broadcasted in chanels ITV1. This chanel targets over 12 million viewers and reaches out to it's primary target audience who are 16-34 year olds (74%) and 81% A,B,C1 a it's secondary target audiences. X-factor finals for 2012 was viewed by 13.1million viewers. This show has an increase in viewving every year which could be seen as a preffered reading that maybe because it represents Britian as a multicultural country this is why more people view it as they can all relate to it (Uses and gratfication-Blumler and Katz). An example of x-factor having a diversity of religions can be when a sikh guy had won the finals, having a sikh ethnic minorty on the show is a unique idea as it show that television has started to accept other dominant religions as well. Also, it can be beneficial to have a range of different ethnicities on the show as it can entertain the audiences for what they perform, inform something that they were never aware of and educate them about something that they never have learnt before. Also, audience can relate to the specific talent that the person is performing (Uses and gratification- Blumler and Katz). An advantage of this is that i is showing how different ethnciites are challenging each other with their talents and that they are connoting that British media is multicultural were ethnicities can challenge eachother. On the other hand, this can be critisized as ethnic minorities stil face harsher punishment in crime and are let down in the education system.
Inaddition, I disagree that the British media reflects on the moder, multicultural nature of society as mainly Black and Asian Backgrounds are mostley to face harsher punishment. This could connote how they are trying to improsen Black and Asian communties more so that they cannot acheive the higher status. An example can be that Black ethnicties are 26times more likely to be stopped by the police and are less likely to be accepted in employment and education. This is because they are stereotyped as negatively and as deviants which prevent police to specifically target these main youths in the streets. This is a very biased view of the police as Black and Asian ethnic minorities face harsher punishments compared to white ethnic minorities but who recieves the harsher punishment? Black and Asian. This shows that the court and police give a much more fair view to White backgrounds than any other background. Which enables the audiences to think as a preffered reading that Britian is not representing itself as a modern, multicultural country due to it not allowing punishments given out equally. An example can be that in 2002 23% White ethnicties recieved punishment for crime, 27% Black and 29% Asian which connotes that whoever is not White recieved a harsher punishment. On the other hand, this could be critisized as Britain is becoming a modern, multicultural society due to the London Riots.
Furthermore, Britain has presented itself as being a modern and multicultural society due to the shocking event in 2011- The London Riots. This serious incident has represented Britain as a multicultural and modern society. An example can be that by the use of fast technology and smartphones, teenagers had acessed Facebook and Twitter in order to spread the message of Looting throug their community much quickly (Global villiage-Mcluhan). This therefore represents Britain as a modern society, however the use of Black, Asian, Pakistani and White Minorities all mugging from the shop and vandalizing other people property was a way of representing Britain as a multicultural society. As suggested by Gurbux singh he had argued that " Interacial violece was there and when you have young people disaffected, who feel they are right at the bottom competeing with another community." This could as a oppositional reading (Stuart Hall) connote how there are different hirachy of class and who has the best job e.g. mainly British White upper class men. This could connote that young people felt that not purchasing legatimely capitalist goods through advertisment was a way for them to go looting. Therefore, they had to get their needs through illegitmate needs, this could be maybe they are envious towards how the top jobs in the world are mainly headed by another dominant race. The London Riots therefore was a good way to express diversity through culture, race and through their actions. This can also link with Frantz Fanons theory of how typically Black stereotypes can be decivilize meaning they are the gansters and p.i.m.p that are doing illegal actions and breaking society laws in order to maybe prove that they too exsist in Britain's multicultural society.However, I agree to a certain extent that Britain isn't becoming a modern, multicultural society this is because of the diverse music and Comprehensive schools.
An example of the above can be that music in Britain is one of the best way to distribute your music. This is because Britain has a variety of different ethnic minorities who like to listen to a variety of different music. An example can be Indian, Pakistani, Rnb, hiphop, Grime, oldschool, rock and many more. Each genre targets different minorities and each artist targets different ages. An example of Britain becoming a multicultural society is through the use of modern artists Rihanna and Dizzie rascal ( and different ethnic minorities appearing in the Hollywood industry such as Dev Patel and Sophie Okenedo. As an oppositional reading (Stuart Hall) some may argue that these ethnic minorities are putting on a white mask in order to become who they want. For example the actress Sophie Okenedo in some films her hair is curly but in some it is straight which could link to Frantz Fanon that she is putting on the white mask even though she is mixed race in order to become more successful among the other minorities, this could link to Alvarado's (1987) that it is exotic that different races are becming more common in Britain e.g. mixed raced families. In contrast this could be critisized as Britain is becoming more diverse through the educaitonsystem and the Olympics to a certain extent .
An example of the above can be that before in the 19th century Black minorities faced a lot of racial prejudice in the the education system. However, this has changed as Britain have more comprehensive schools that is for every ethnic minority. This could therefore represent Britain as being a modern, multicultural society which has developed both in sports and education. An example can be the Olympics ceremony in 2012 this had a variety of cultures competing against each other. A example of Britain becoming a diverse and multicultral society is through the use of different languages used in the voice over. This could connote that every ethnic background is performing in this well know event. This could link with Blumler and Katz theory of identfication as every race is part of this event e.g. music scene which represents this event as being multicultural. On the other hand, this could be critisized as the events mostely performed were by other minorities and less of the Asian community like Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi which does not represent Britain as a modern and multucultural society again.
In conclusion, I agree to a certain extent that British media relfect the modern, mutlticultural nature of British Society. For example in 2002 the newspapers were written from 96% a white jounalist, which represents how diversity was little then. However, now Black and Asian acotrs are taking leading role in prime time t.v. were a nuclear family sits together and watches maybe the most common soap operas which therefore represents British media become more modern and mutlicultural. However, this could be critisized as mostley the media stereotype and represent Black ethnic minorities in newspapers as being deviants and unsuccesful who are mostley labelled as dumb and thick by teachers (Labelling theory Becker 1971). This therefore represents Britains media s being biased towards other minorities not giving them an opportunties to be successful like the white ethnic minorities in today's Britain society.
