TV Tokenism

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This is a Black Screen


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TV Tokenism Spiro Bolos & John S. O’Connor ➔ New Trier High School ➔ CASE


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The Past Spike Lee’s Bamboozled Multiple examples of the negative portrayal of AfricanAmericans in last 50 years Similarities to today’s sitcoms?


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Spike Lee’s Bamboozled


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The Present Purpose of TV Shows Prized Demographics “Upfront” Presentations Dramas vs Sitcoms/Reality TV


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“Basically, network TV goes out and creates a bunch of pilot shows. They’re basically practice shows... SOURCE: NPR’s Talk of the Nation, “After Chaotic Year, Dramas Play at TV Upfronts”: Eric Deggans, TV/Media critic, St. Petersburg Times


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[E]ach network could create something like 30 pilots, and they may only pick ten. Ten is a lot, if they pick ten. SOURCE: NPR’s Talk of the Nation, “After Chaotic Year, Dramas Play at TV Upfronts”: Eric Deggans, TV/Media critic, St. Petersburg Times


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So that’s a pretty low batting average to spend an average of a million, maybe $2 million a pilot, and then only pick up a fifth...that you actually produce. SOURCE: NPR’s Talk of the Nation, “After Chaotic Year, Dramas Play at TV Upfronts”: Eric Deggans, TV/Media critic, St. Petersburg Times


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“Come to think of it, I saw a white judge on Law & Order last night!” — Grizz

30 Rock: “Racism is Back.”


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The Future What is TV Tokenism? Is it 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?


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“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


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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


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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


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30 Rock: “the Diversity Guy”


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Examples... CBS: “NCIS”


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Examples... CBS: “NCIS”


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Examples... FOX: “Fringe”


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Examples... ABC: “LOST”


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Examples... ABC: “FlashForward”


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FlashForward: “Pilot”


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“Where’s my token minority partner?”

FlashForward: “Pilot”


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1:43


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2:06


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3:46


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4:04


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5:15


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6:06


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“The Best-Dressed Man” 7:08


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“The Authority Minority” 7:08 - 7:27


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“Token Faces”


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“Token Faces”


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“Token Faces”


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“Token Faces”


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“Token Faces”


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Examples... FOX: “House, M.D.”


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Examples... CW: “One Tree Hill”


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Examples... CBS: “CSI: Miami”


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CSI: Miami “Mystical Minority”


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Examples... FOX: “24”


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24: “Pilot” Episode


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next appearance

elapsed time

43:00

0:36 1:49

24: Sen. David Palmer (domestic)


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elapsed time

2:57

24: Agent Jack Bauer (domestic)


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What is the effect? Max Weisbuch, Tufts University: “The Subtle Transmission of Race Bias via Televised Nonverbal Behavior” (2009)


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The Experiment


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The Experiment


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The Experiment


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The Experiment


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The Experiment


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The Experiment


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“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)


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“...and viewers exhibit more racial bias after exposure to such negative responses.” SOURCE: Tufts Journal, “Lessons in Black and White” (January 6, 2010)


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“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)


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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?


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Thanks. Kerry Brennan, John S. O’Connor, & the Bolos Girls

Songs: Public Enemy: “Burn, Hollywood, Burn” Wilco: “Kicking Television”


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