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VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 4 OPINION • JANUARY 27, 2014
Minority media representation inaccurately depicts diversity
2809 Oscar Statuettes have been awarded in the 85 years of the Academy Awards’ meilan steimle existence. Out of those 2809, reporter 38 have been awarded to Asian Americans, 29 have been to African Americans, and one has been to a Hispanic-American. Pooled together, that’s a little under 2.5 percent. America is a country that prides itself on being a melting pot, a gloriously diverse country founded on the principles of freedom for all. Yet mainstream media continues to consistently cast Caucasian actors in lead roles in movies and TV shows. The discrepancy between what we live and what we see continues out of racial territory. Both women and the LGBT community are underrepresented in our entertainment; a National Public Radio (NPR) study shows that only 28 percent of speaking characters in last year’s movies were female. As a Eurasian who appears more phenotypically Caucasian than Asian, I’ve been told before that my opin-
ions on this issue are influenced by my having lived all my life with “white privilege.” Ironically, the only discrimination I’ve ever experienced is from the choir members at Crystal Children’s Choir, an almost exclusively Chinese organization. My point is, being different from the norm is never fun, and I understand that. So what do I want? The answer is obvious: more minority representation. But I also want so much more than that. I want to live in a world where an African American character in a leading role is just a lead, not a black lead. I want to see a gay character whose main conflict isn’t centered around his or her homosexuality. I want to watch an Asian character who isn’t a martial arts master or a nerd. I want to see an America where a kids movie starring two females isn’t newsworthy. I want minority characters whose ethnicity or sexuality doesn’t consume and override their personality. Of course, a few movies and shows break the mold. Lucy Liu in “Elementary,” Mindy Kaling in “The Mindy Project,” and John Cho in “Star Trek” are a few examples. But as much as those who
S traight Talk _
high school, no one is going to care, or even remember, how many times you had the highest test score in the class. The summer before senior year Competition may seem like a crucial extension to an takes away already hectic junior year, but a presfrom valuing tigious internship, or lack thereof, will not make or break a college applicaeducation tion. Regardless, as deadlines approach sheridan tobin I’ve over- shouldn’t we be helping one another opinion editor heard conversa- pick out programs that spark our intions between dividual passions, rather than hiding students who don’t even want to talk our top choices to possibly increase our about colleges or internships they’re chances of getting in or to ensure that applying to and extracurriculars they’re they will make us one of a kind? No two students are going to joining solely because they fear others’ submit identical college applications awareness of these programs will either and participating in the same summer decrease their chances of being acceptprogram as a peer isn’t going to change ed or, if others do join as well, it will that. somehow devalue their own accomAs a community, we should be plishment. supporting each other’s goals and aspiNot only is that assumption about rations, not trying to knock each other application processes flawed, but it also down just to get ahead. undermines the weight of such accomI’d like to believe that I haven’t let plishments when they are common competition get the best of me, but I among peers. Success is sweet, but it’s can’t say it hasn’t affected me. I coneasy to forget that it’s often sweeter stantly fi nd myself comparing myself to when shared. my peers as if I have to somehow prove There’s no denying that our school that my accomplishments measure up teems with competition, and it’s unto theirs. I derstandable. will never Given the preshave enough sure surroundAfter high school, no one is going time, energy, ing grades and to care, or even remember, how or brain powcollege we all er to succeed face, it makes many times you had the highest in five AP sense that comtest score in the class. classes at a petition follows given time, naturally. but as long How, then, as I know I’m doing my best, I’m okay do we draw the line between healthy with that. My high school experience competition and ridiculous, unnecessary competition? To avoid the latter, is just that—mine—and how others we can’t get caught up in the num- choose to spend their four years won’t bers because, at the end of the day, we change that. I’m not saying competition is alshould value our education over our ways bad—it’s not—and I’m sure expoachievement. sure to it in high school will be beneMost of us, myself included, have fi cial at some points in my future, but a natural tendency to want to know it often becomes excessive and can take where we stand, so I understand why away from why we’re actually here: to it’s hard to resist the urge to sneak learn. peeks at others’ grades when a teacher We’re all different people with hands back an assignment. Ultimately, unique minds and interests, so gethowever, we only have control of our ting wrapped up in competition won’t own efforts. How our classmates do on help anything because it’s not an equal their assignments shouldn’t enhance or fi ght. If we all play to our strengths and take away from our own work. weaknesses, we should only have to We should study well for our own compete against ourselves. benefit, not just to prove that we can get higher grades than our peers. After
MEILAN STEIMLE - WINGED POST
yearn for diversity celebrate the little victories, the fact is that they’re still victories. We live in the 21st century, and in a community as diverse as Harker, it’s often hard to remember how parts of this country are struggling to catch up to the standard we’ve grown up with. Only one female director has ever won the academy award for “Best Director.” Having representation in the media is incredibly important, not just so minorities feel more accepted, but because the media has a huge affect on how others view those minorities. Often times, a person’s only exposure to a minority group is through the media. My mother sometimes talks about how people have commented that she doesn’t seem Chinese because she doesn’t fit the stereotypes perpetuated by TV and movies. However, the quest for minority representation is still a social movement, and social movements are not unanimously supported. It is neither legislative nor ethically correct to force individuals to cater to one groups’ political views. The First Amendment protects free expression, so directors and writers can never have an obligation to put minority characters in their films and
ever-lasting friendship, clichéd romance, and superlative academics aren’t that easy to accomplish. Don’t get me wrong: I’m excited My not-soto restart the annual cycle of matusweet sixteen ration and stop identifying myself as “almost 16” (which usually starts about one month after my birthday’s passed). There’s an imminent uncertainty about the upcoming year juhi gupta brewing in the distance, though, and Aquila multimedia editor it’s not something easily ignored. What even makes being 16 so 140,232. special? Aside from the fact that I The number of hours I’ve spent can legally vote for the Nicaraguan waiting for this day. president and get married in ScotToday is my not-so-sweet land without parental consent, I can’t 16th birthday. The closer these 24 exactly pinpoint it. Apparently it’s hours loomed, the more I realized supposed to how much I mark a “tranwas dreading sition to wom[Turning sixteen is] supposed them. Birthanhood,” a to mark a “transition to womdays are supturning point posed to be anhood,” a turning point in life in life where fun and eneverything is where everything is glorified tertaining–not glorified and and idealized and suddenly unsettling. idealized and “This is starts to fall into place. That suddenly starts going to be my seems a little subjective to me... to fall into year!” could be place. That and definitely more than a little seems a little a motivational mantra, but it frightening. subjective to works equally me...and defiwell as a prenitely more monition. than a little frightening. The “sweet 16” hype has set But maybe that moment won’t my expectations absurdly high. I’ve come this year. It might never come, spent my entire life dreaming of a and I should be okay with that. I Sixteen Candles moment, where ev- don’t want to head into a year with erything comes together and I get the added stress of making sure it my own metaphorically unattainable falls nothing short of extraordinary. Jake Ryan. I don’t want to force experiences As a child, I was inculcated with just to satisfy mere conjecture. And the reckless adolescent wonderland I most definitely don’t want to play that was ‘age 16’. I’ve been idoliz- God and orchestrate my fate. Just ing it as the year of suburban idylls because this is supposed to be the since I was a lonesome third grader, year of memories, of transformation, watching Nickelodeon’s “6Teen” reli- or of wisdom doesn’t mean those giously on school nights. things will actually happen. I was enamored. I’d voraciousMaybe this is purely speculaly devour novels and adhere to high tive. Maybe the second I turn 16, school TV show characters, trying I’ll undergo a sudden metamorphodesperately to experience their lives sis into a sophisticated, responsible with a sort of vicarious glory. They “woman.” The truth is, I don’t know gave me something to aspire toward, what this year will have in store for a romanticized yet concrete goal–an me–but I’m sure I’m not going to sit “I can’t wait until then!” around waiting to find out. But my hopes for being 16 might have been a little too high:
JUDGE JUHI
Le er from the editors wp
Newspaper redesign intends to update aesthetics
As you flip through the pages of Issue 4, you will notice a fresher version of The Winged Post. The editorial board has been working to revamp the newspaper over the past two months in order to bring a more modern flair to our conventional publication. In redesigning the paper, we sought to update the reserved mold we had followed for the past few years. The classic structure has served us well, but the upcoming issues will reflect new trends in designs, featuring more creative and aesthetic versions of our old ideas. You will experience more alternative storytelling techniques, such as sidebars and an
increased use of whitespace in order to liberate our design aesthetic. Over the last few months, the journalism program has undergone several changes to establish a more progressive style to its publications, including the overhaul of the online program into Harker Aquila. In an effort to modernize our web counterpart with more multimedia components and social media integration, we will be incorporating several interactive features such as Aurasma, an app similar to a QR code scanner that allows you to access additional content online by hovering over a photo in print. As we push into the age of online expansion, we seek to bring ele-
ments that readers are accustomed to in online news formats, such as infographics and statistics, into our paper. Several of our articles now live in different forms online, stories that use visual elements in print now boast distinct multimedia features when posted on Harker Aquila. Our mission as a newspaper staff is ultimately to bring the school community together with the news of the day, a goal that we can more successfully attain with the redesign of The Winged Post. We hope you enjoy your new experience.
Sincerely, Meena Che y & Nikhil Dilip
TV shows. The only way to change how and to what degree social and ethnic minorities are represented in the media is to change our culture to the point where having minorities is no longer a social decision. Our society seems to be moving in that direction; minorities have been featured with much greater frequency in the media lately, but are still often stereotypes instead of three-dimensional characters. So the question that presents itself to all of us as we seek out entertainment is this: how much do we care? How much are we willing to let our politics influence what we watch? For me, do I care about minority representation enough to boycott films and TV shows lacking diversity? The short answer is no. As much as I want more diverse characters, representation is not the deciding factor for me as to whether or not I like something. It’s a factor, but plot and theme take precedence. So as I watch “Frozen” for the third time, the main characters’ ethnicity won’t stop me from enjoying the movie’s satirical glory, but I’ll still wish that Elsa and Anna were more than two more thin, white Disney Princesses.
rum e e n ations Laughter keeps us kids at heart
meena chetty editor in chief
A fire alarm? A dying elephant!? Nope, it’s just my laugh. In third grade, I was asked to leave my classroom and to return only when I had ended my laugh attack and regained composure. In a fifth grade science class, I accidentally cut my finger during a dissection because I was laughing too hard. As an eighth grader, I made my baby cousin start crying whenever I laughed. Although my laugh has caused more problems than pleasure over the years, it hasn’t gotten any less weird throughout high school. My exasperated friends roll their eyes once they hear the initial giggle that indicates an imminent explosion, and a few of my teachers insist that they can hear me laughing from across campus. Those of you who don’t know me probably think I’m crazy by now due to my lack of restraint, but I did used to be uncomfortably self-conscious about my highly unflattering laugh. And although I haven’t been able to alter it one bit, I have abandoned all efforts to hide it. My superficial justification is the common idea that “laughing makes us live longer”; but in all honesty, I just think it’s fun. According to the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, small children laugh more than 300 times a day, while the same statistic for adults is a mere 17. As my final weeks of legal childhood approach, I have resolved that I don’t want to completely succumb to this unfortunate downward trend. Laughter leaves in us a sense of wonderment. As we let the endorphins dominate our senses, we release all our inhibitions and lift our veils of judgement and constraint for just a moment to open our eyes to the spontaneity in life. Sigmund Freud’s theory of laughter as a coping mechanism or Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy that laughter is evidence of existentialist mortality may be completely substantiated; however, I prefer to believe that laughter simply bridges the gap of the unknown and allows us to form new connections. As Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” A year from now, I’m not going to remember the math test for which I spent hours studying or the outfit that I planned for today; instead, I will remember sitting with my friends at lunch and laughing uncontrollably over a lame joke. The lasting memories will be the ones that occurred unplanned and unexpected--but more than welcome. And that’s what laughter is.