RACIAL STEREOTYPES

IN PAST AND PRESENT

TV SHOWS
Content:

1. What is a stereotype?

2. Positive and negative stereotypes

3. Examples of stereotypes

3.1. past show

3.2. present show

4. Stereotype in "King of Queens"

5. Stereotype in "Modern Family"

1. Stereotype definition:

A stereotype is a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a

particular group of people. 

Advantage: It enables us to respond quickly to situations because

we may have had a similar experience before.

Disadvantage: It makes us ignore differences between

individuals, so that we end up making simplistic
generalizations about individuals or groups.
 2. Positive and negative stereotypes
- Positive stereotype Definition: 
In social psychology, a positive stereotype refers to a subjectively favourable belief held about a social group.
Common examples are
- Asians with better math ability 
- African Americans with greater athletic ability
- women are warmer and more communal

- Negative stereotype examples:

- all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists 
- all white Americans are obese, lazy and dimwitted
- all Jews are greedy
- all Mexicans are lazy and came into America illegally
3.1.Examples of stereotypes( past show)

Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

3.2. Examples of stereotypes (present tv show)

CSI: Miami (2002-2012)

    actor: Adam Rodriguez( Latino actor)

•according to Diane J. Klein( University of La Verne College of Law, Ontario):

• six stereotypes( three for Latinos, three for Latinas):
• el bandido, meaning the outlaw or bandit
• the male buffoon(= idiot) 
• the Latin lover
• the harlot(= prostitute)
• the female clown Dieses Foto von "Unbekannter Autor" ist lizenziert unter
CC BY.

• the dark lady

•
•at times the most-watched tv programme on the planet (sometimes more than
63 Mio. viewers worldwide)  
•
 4. Stereotype in
"King of Queens"
•1998-2007
•9 seasons and 207 episodes
•sitcom that divided audiences (fans enjoyed
comedy, TV critics hit out at the show for
relying too heavily on class and gender
stereotypes)
•example: "Steve Moscow" (Season 5,
Episode 18)
•Doug and Carrie hire a Russian work crew to
fix some dampness in their apartment, but
the workers end up being listless and lazy
•
Dieses Foto von "Unbekannter Autor" ist lizenziert unter CC BY-SA.
•
Russian
stereotypes:

• listless
• lazy
• alcoholic
• impolite
• destructive
•
Dieses Foto von "Unbekannter Autor" ist lizenziert unter CC BY-SA.
5. Stereotype in "Modern
Family"
• 2009-2020
• 11 seasons and 250 episodes
• sitcom/
mockumentary that uncovers the
lives of 3 different, but linked,
stereotypical families
• Example: "A stereotypical Day"
( Season 8, Episode 2)
•
Dieses Foto von "Unbekannter Autor" ist lizenziert unter CC BY-SA.
 Jay Pritchett: "racist white man"( while the writers try to show that
he's not racist, for example by introducing a black friend, the payoff
to his storyline involves him confusing his neighbor saying "by the
5.Stereotypes way" with the pronunciation of an African name

in "Modern
Gloria Pritchett: "the walking,talking Latino stereotype"                   
Family"                                                                 - she's loud and
opinionated       

 -many family members, Jay in particular, often make fun of

Columbia, it's culture and it's customs
ANY QUESTIONS?