This has been on my mind somewhat for the past few days. I have been doing a lot of thinking about stereotypes and racism in media and how it intersects with racial issues and prejudice in general. I might be wrong but the conclusion I have arrived at is at that when people of racial minority (other races than white in American/European media) are mocked in media it is a case of racism, when minority groups such as women, LGBT, Muslim, Jewish, single parents, immigrants are mocked it is a case of prejudice. In both cases, stereotypes are generously involved. But in these two groups racial issues and minority issues intersect.
But it got me thinking, in cases of white people being mocked in media, what is then used? Because that does happen - there are times when I watch TV when I feel like grinding my teeth which the stereotypes that are being used. In such cases, the focus of the mockery often becomes perceived stereotypical notions of people based on their nationality and background.
Before I am going to have someone throw torches at me for writing about this, I'd like to point out this is something that does happen. As I focus on American media here, my specific annoyance arises from the way in which Europeans are often portrayed on TV. Yes, I am aware that Europeans are generally perceived to be the most economically advantaged people in the world and they do have certain racial privileges based on the fact that they are Caucasian and the culture is considered 'better' than culture in other parts of the world. But that has not stopped great poverty from arising, economical disasters from happening Europeans from hating each other and employing genocide as a vehicle to get rid of people that are in some way 'wrong' (concentrated within Europe) and attempting to take over the world with disastrous results. European history and communication is in short, a complete and utter mess. I am proud to be European but at the same time, it feels conflicting. I love where I come from but at the same time I get so angry when I realize how badly people have been treated here and the incredible extent of the damage Europeans have done throughout the world. The continent is a royal mess. But despite the complicated mess there are some incredible and delightful things in between and little secrets to discover and respect. Europe is a mess but there are jewels hidden in between. Not to mention one important thing - Europe is an entire continent with 48 countries and millions of people; that naturally leads to great diversity of culture and religions so there is no one European identity, instead there are many. My Nordic view is but one of millions.
Therefore, I so much dislike it when I see all the stereotypes that are being used of Europeans, especially in regards to sensitive cultural matters, behavior and history. There is no middle ground. Either, Western-Europeans are portrayed as being the cream of the crop and the world's coolest people that come from a superb culture and speak with British aceent. Or the other way, all Europeans (no matter where they come from) are portrayed as being mad hooligans. In both cases in terms of stereotypes. Not all Europeans are mad hooligans and in no way are Western-Europeans the cream of the crop. I especially as people to take notice of the fact that I refer specifically to Western European countries, namely U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland. The rest of Europeans are represented by employing offensive stereotypes. Northern-Europeans are either superbly sexy Vikings or serious country bumpkins with no knowledge of the world, Southern-Europeans are all sexy and exotic and ride on scooters saying 'ciao' and Eastern-Europeans are just plain mad with thick and heavy accents and are all communists. Oh, and either all Europeans speak with a British accent, with an Eastern-European accent or speak no English at all. I find that hilarious.
So why am I covering this? I am looking at you NCIS:Los Angeles and your senseless use of the 'mad' Russian stereotype, along with some French and German thrown in just for the heck of it. NCIS and Castle have largely escaped employing those stereotypes but NCIS:LA seems to have the personal agenda of employing as many stereotypes as possible of Europeans (I have covered this in some detail). As I have stated in another blog-post, NCIS:LA has blessedly so far restrained itself from employing Northern/Southern European stereotypes and will hopefully continue to do so. But it sure keeps the material coming and keeps my teeth grinding with annoyance. But NCIS:LA is not the only show to blame, tons of shows employ stereotypes with glee.
I know many will argue that using stereotypes of white people is not bad as they are not a minority in any way and I am fretting over little things. And in a way I am. But as someone that dislikes stereotypes more than anything this is something I want to bring attention to.
And to end this - I have just complained of how American media uses stereotypes of Europeans. We have tons of stereotypes of Americans here in Europe which we employ with glee pretty much every day. So it goes both ways.
But it got me thinking, in cases of white people being mocked in media, what is then used? Because that does happen - there are times when I watch TV when I feel like grinding my teeth which the stereotypes that are being used. In such cases, the focus of the mockery often becomes perceived stereotypical notions of people based on their nationality and background.
Before I am going to have someone throw torches at me for writing about this, I'd like to point out this is something that does happen. As I focus on American media here, my specific annoyance arises from the way in which Europeans are often portrayed on TV. Yes, I am aware that Europeans are generally perceived to be the most economically advantaged people in the world and they do have certain racial privileges based on the fact that they are Caucasian and the culture is considered 'better' than culture in other parts of the world. But that has not stopped great poverty from arising, economical disasters from happening Europeans from hating each other and employing genocide as a vehicle to get rid of people that are in some way 'wrong' (concentrated within Europe) and attempting to take over the world with disastrous results. European history and communication is in short, a complete and utter mess. I am proud to be European but at the same time, it feels conflicting. I love where I come from but at the same time I get so angry when I realize how badly people have been treated here and the incredible extent of the damage Europeans have done throughout the world. The continent is a royal mess. But despite the complicated mess there are some incredible and delightful things in between and little secrets to discover and respect. Europe is a mess but there are jewels hidden in between. Not to mention one important thing - Europe is an entire continent with 48 countries and millions of people; that naturally leads to great diversity of culture and religions so there is no one European identity, instead there are many. My Nordic view is but one of millions.
Therefore, I so much dislike it when I see all the stereotypes that are being used of Europeans, especially in regards to sensitive cultural matters, behavior and history. There is no middle ground. Either, Western-Europeans are portrayed as being the cream of the crop and the world's coolest people that come from a superb culture and speak with British aceent. Or the other way, all Europeans (no matter where they come from) are portrayed as being mad hooligans. In both cases in terms of stereotypes. Not all Europeans are mad hooligans and in no way are Western-Europeans the cream of the crop. I especially as people to take notice of the fact that I refer specifically to Western European countries, namely U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland. The rest of Europeans are represented by employing offensive stereotypes. Northern-Europeans are either superbly sexy Vikings or serious country bumpkins with no knowledge of the world, Southern-Europeans are all sexy and exotic and ride on scooters saying 'ciao' and Eastern-Europeans are just plain mad with thick and heavy accents and are all communists. Oh, and either all Europeans speak with a British accent, with an Eastern-European accent or speak no English at all. I find that hilarious.
So why am I covering this? I am looking at you NCIS:Los Angeles and your senseless use of the 'mad' Russian stereotype, along with some French and German thrown in just for the heck of it. NCIS and Castle have largely escaped employing those stereotypes but NCIS:LA seems to have the personal agenda of employing as many stereotypes as possible of Europeans (I have covered this in some detail). As I have stated in another blog-post, NCIS:LA has blessedly so far restrained itself from employing Northern/Southern European stereotypes and will hopefully continue to do so. But it sure keeps the material coming and keeps my teeth grinding with annoyance. But NCIS:LA is not the only show to blame, tons of shows employ stereotypes with glee.
I know many will argue that using stereotypes of white people is not bad as they are not a minority in any way and I am fretting over little things. And in a way I am. But as someone that dislikes stereotypes more than anything this is something I want to bring attention to.
And to end this - I have just complained of how American media uses stereotypes of Europeans. We have tons of stereotypes of Americans here in Europe which we employ with glee pretty much every day. So it goes both ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment