"Diverse" TV Shows
What is a "diverse" TV show? With a lax definition, one might consider it any show that has a reasonable number of - or even one main - character that is not of European descent. Examples of such shows include Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, neither of which focus on a single non-White family but have several non-White cast members.
The surge in number of "diverse" TV shows has led some to ask whether American television has reached a new era, one of multiculturalism. Studies have begun to show that movies and shows with diverse casts earn more money and score higher ratings. All of these results seem positive. However, some have questions and concerns. Some are concerned that the shows may fail, which would hurt attempts to add diversity to American television. Others still cite that more progress is to be made, namely in the terms of representations of gender, sexuality, and disabilities. Additionally, though many TV shows may now look more diverse, their writers remain predominately white. |
Image taken from http://dialog.scarborough.com
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This page was created for Marc Bousquet's English 363 at Emory University.