Reflection 1: Hey, That's Me!—Seeing Yourself on Television


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 For a young Whoopi Goldberg, the sight of an independent Black woman on the bridge of the USS Enterprise in 1966 was life-altering. Star Trek offered the future superstar more than just a chance to see her reflection on television; it provided a glimpse into a hopeful, prosperous future for her community. Meanwhile, Korean-Canadian actor Sandra Oh laments that she lacked that same sense of possibility growing up: "I grew up never seeing myself on-screen, and it’s really important to me to give people who look like me a chance to see themselves. I want to see myself as the hero of any story. I want to see myself save the world from the bomb." While diversity in contemporary television has improved significantly over the last two decades, there are concerning signs of a recent plateau or, even, decline. Even now, the medium still leans heavily toward straight, white, male protagonists—perhaps not surprising when over 90% of streaming content creators are white. This raises vital questions about the power of the representation: What is the true significance of seeing a variety of people represented on television, especially in our current political climate? Have you ever seen your own life and identity reflected accurately on-screen? If you’ve felt invisible in the medium, why do you believe that is—and what would it take for television to finally represent the reality of who you are?

 Note: This is not solely about race and ethnicity. You may identify yourself however you like, including social class, religion, and disabilities and not just in one way. For instance, you might identify as an atheist Indian woman or a working-class queer Asian. Use whatever self-identification you like.

Include at least two of the following in your discussion: 

Required:

  • MLA Style, including works cited
  • 500 words (≈2 pages)
Due: Fri 2.27 (via Canvas)

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