Diversity in television, it is present, yet according to an article on The Deadline, it still clearly does not represented in the American population. Where the votes for LGBTQ actors where based on their straight roles, for example, Neil Patrick Harris, where he is one of the most beloved characters… due to the fact he played womanizer Barney Stinson, on TV show How I Met Your Mother, not because he is an openly gay actor. After reading this article, I can agree that the real American society and its components are not accurately represented on TV shows. The most important part is that this study is solely based on the top 100 characters in American TV, which represents the likes and preferences of the American audience. The reason why I personally feel TV shows do show diversity yet do not represent the American population is because the characters may be diverse and there might be inclusion in the make-believe worlds of the TV Series, yet in the real world the acceptance and actual inclusion is not the same or even close to that, where the LGBTQ only made 11% out of the top 100 favorite characters were the actual LGBTQ community makes up 4.8% of the American Population.
On another thought, the idea that TV chains are trying to include racially and sexually diverse producers is also a step forward in inclusion in television and real portrayal of the role these different races and genders play in the American society. For example Netflix, is working on inclusion and diversity on the TV shows and Movies produced by them, for example Orange is the New Black, The Queen of Flow (which is actually in Spanish and presents Colombian conflicts and culture), and other culturally and sexually diverse sitcoms. I am sure there must be some Latin American/ Cuban who has experienced life in the United States, behind the production of One Day at a Time, because for the first time, although it does not represent every single Latin American family home, I feel that the Latin American culture is well represented on a TV show, it leaves behind Latin American stereotypes and actually highlights things that are relatable and may, probably, happen in a Latin American household, not just the usual Latina non-English speaking cleaning lady or the Charro riding a burro while eating a taco kind of portrayal that was seen often before on TV.
Prompts:
Will the increase in diversity amongst TV show and movie producers actually help accurately represent the American Population?
Should polls be supervised so that there is an equal representation of the opinions and preferences of every race, gender, or cultural background?
February 25, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Your blog starts off with a really interesting point. We not only have to balance the demographics of who we cast, but also the roles they portray in television. Does it do much good to boost diversity if Neil Harris is remembered only as his straight character and the fact that he is openly gay is just a side note? I am not sure what the nature of that effect is, but it is great that your blog gets the reader thinking about it.
I also like the point you made about Netflix. There are certainly many members that speak Spanish, so having an all-Spanish Netflix show is good progress in really increasing diversity. It not only has a diverse cast but it more true to the experience it is trying to replicate.
This was a very interesting and well-made blog. Good job.