beyond Telemundo and Univision alone. As much as I miss watching cheesy soap operas, filled with sex, drama and passion in Spanish, I now have the option of watching it in Finnish, Farsi, Korean, Chinese--practically any population that is represented here in the United States.As an intern this summer for Porter Novelli Public Relations, I had the opportunity to lobby on
behalf of restaurants in Los Angeles County. On any given occasion, I would walk into a restaurant that served Ethiopian, Korean, Armenian, Mexican or Vietnamese food. Most of these restaurants had at least one commonality: a television set broadcasting in their native tongue. I had no idea the range of television stations available in so many different languages. (And despite the language barrier, I could still pick up on the sappy soap opera. Daytime television must be similar for all.)
Even those that speak English have television networks based on race. Black Entertainment Television (BET) has been very successful in marketing television and music to African-Americans and other cultures alike. BET and similar organizations have brought blacks and multiculturalism to the forefront of American popular culture.Even as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we too are witnessing this
media phenomenon. Although we are not necessarily a race, we have our own niche market, thanks to BYU television. BYU television is available through special request on most satellite or cable companies here in the US and it is being spread outside of the US through BYU Television International. The advertising there is specific to our demographic, ranging from advertisements for Deseret Book, food storage or LDS-based troubled youth academies.However, I believe that this emerging market is important to recognize. As communications professionals, we have niche markets that are available on so many different levels, especially ethnicity and race. If you recall, on page 546, the text said “we need to realize that many Americans, particularly nonwhite, have felt excluded from full economic and cultural participation in American life and may deeply resent the view that we should just see ourselves as Americans.” Based on this statement, my question is: Does race-specific television further the nonwhite animosity towards Americans and make nonwhites feel more excluded? Why or why not?
37 comments:
First post yo! BOOYA.
AAAAAaaaaanyway-
to answer your question I'll have to say that I am not too worried about race/ethnicity-specific channels fueling hatred for americans. Now, if you meant hatred against WHITE americans... I'm not terribly worried about that either. Although... the way white people are made-fun of on some of the BET comedy shows doesn't help the whole "togetherness, equality" ideal. But, I feel those channels are a way for other races to grow comfortable and integrated.
PS - White people have CMT right? Joking. Although I'd rather kick myself in the face than watch CMT. :)
I don't think that race-specific television furthers the nonwhite animosity towards Americans and make nonwhites feel more excluded. Different stations exist to cater to different interests. There are plenty of other stations out there that target different groups besides racially based groups. Take for example stations such as Oh!, E!, mTV, foodnetwork, Nickelodean, The History Channel...the list goes on. These stations all cater towards a specific demographic, just like BET, etc., and that's all it is, a station exists to cater to a specific demographic, whether they're cooks, children, african american, music lovers, asian, history buffs, middle-aged women, caucasian, or whatever.
I don’t think race-specific television makes nonwhites feel excluded. I agree with Brooke. All of the different television stations are created for everyone’s different tastes, different interests, different personalities, and different cultural backgrounds. Because of the variety of television stations and television programs, advertising has been able to become more specific to its target audience. For an advertising major like me, that is a very good thing. I don’t think race-specific television is a bad thing at all. I think it just caters to different audiences.
Not to be repetitive, but I agree with the previous posts. I feel that race specific channels do not make nonwhites feel more excluded. People watch certain channels because they have different interests and different concerns. For instance, I love watching the CW, ABC, and ESPN. However, I have caucasion friends that know spanish and LOVE the spanish channel. Obviously, if you are a certain race, you are more ;likely to possibly watch the programs and channels in which you understand. Disregarding the language barrier, I feel that which channel one tunes into is directly related to their interests.
I also agree that race-specific television doesn't further nonwhite animosity towards Americans, nor does it make Americans feel excluded. Personally, there are plenty of other channels that interest me and cater to my needs that I don't feel "threatened" by other channels that don't necessarily interest me, or others of my race or background.
I watch telemundo every once in a while to practice my spanish. Then I laugh at how ridiculous the programming is. (in my humble opinion) The plethora of stations in different languages doesn't affect me or annoy me as long as I have fox, abc, history, discovery, espn, espn2, espnu, espnclassic, and YES. As long as I get those then I'm completely satisfied.
I think it's great that television has branched out with different shows that include minorities because it allows minorities the chance to have something to watch or at least have a show that they can connect with.
I don't think that these television channels fuel any kinds of animosity. I think it shows that as a culture we recognize the diversity around us and want to give each area of our culture just what they want. As I learned in my Marketing class, its all about knowing your audience and targeting them. However, if your audience is broad and has a wide range of interests, it may be hard to do that, and so niche markets become necessary. I think they're a great thing!
I strongly believe that culture or race specific programing is NOT making white americans feel excluded. I work for BYU Television and had a great experience as I helped BYU TV International in it's infancy. As far as programing in other languages here in america goes I still don't believe there are any feelings of being excluded, especially in saturated LDS areas. I'd be pleased to watch programing in portugues to practice my language.
I don't think that ethnic specific TV fuels hate towards whites or makes them feel excluded. I think it is good for people to embrace their culture. The channels would not exist if they did not produce a profit anyways, maybe thats why there are no channels. I have a lot of Danish blood in me, Do you ever wonder why there's no Danish channel. It because no one would want to watch it. No one cares. So what do feel excluded from? We could have a channel if we wanted.
I don't think race specific television will further the nonwhite animosity towards Americans or make whites feel more excluded. I think it is a great thing that television has branched out to different races. I think it is differences like these that need to be recognized and celebrated by society. We all want to watch television in our own language, dealing with our own culture. Now, more and more cultures are getting this opportunity.
It's nice to have the options to watch different kinds of shows, how you want. I've never thought of it as being race specific though. It does cause people to be more connected through a different way, and I think it's a good thing.
Race-specific TV doesn't further nonwhite animosity. I think at times it makes white people feel excluded. I've heard comments like "If we were to have a White Entertainment Television channel, it would cause a riot." I like how Jake put it, these channels ARE a way for cultures to become integrated and have common ground. And white people DO have CMT! Even if Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish has gone country. Really, these stations are a home away from home to those who have come from other countries and need that taste of where they came from or a way to come together without physically uniting.
I don't feel that race-specific TV is a bad thing. Like we observed in class, most American stations cast white males for the leading roles. If we got rid of race-specific TV then Americans of all races would have no choice but to watch these shows starring white males, and I believe that would further animosity toward White Americans.
It seems like the feeling is unanimous thus far. I too agree that these ethnic/racial/niche stations don't cause animosity toward caucasians. I think it's an example of what the article we read argued—we don't have to always "pretend" to be the same to have respect, reverence, and even love for other cultures. In fact, those feelings don't spawn from mixing in the first place, they are literally because of the differences.
I will have to disagree with pretty much everybody else. I think that race specific channels can fuel animosity against Americans to a certain extent. Many times people will immigrate to the US not knowing English. They can usually find a job that they dont need to know English for. At the end of the day they go home to their non English speaking families and dont speak English in the home. There only chance to learn English maybe from the television which in my mission in Mexico I know several people that learned English farely well watching TV. Instead, they turn straight to the channel that speaks their language and watch that. Dont you think that the animosity that they may have with Americans may change if they spoke the same language? If they were forced to only watch TV in english they would probably learn it.
I don't think that race-specific television makes non-whites feel excluded, however I do believe that race-specific channels lead people into having a narrowed view toward that race. CMT in no way identifes with EVERY white American any more or less than that of BET for African Americans. The way I see it, if any animosity or prejudice thought were to arise, it come from the racial counterparts misunderstanding of those being targeted.
I don't think that race-specific television furthers nonwhite animosity. I do hope one day we won't have to have different channels that seem especially for a certain race, such as BET. Growing I naively wondered why there was a channel just for African Americans and not a channel that was just for white people. I think mostly people turn to the channels that they have interest in regardless of what race they are.
Race specific television exists because there are markets for it. It gives people something to watch that they can relate to so I think its a good thing. I don't see how they could be creating any kind of resentment towards americans. It's just a bunch of marketers trying to fill a niche.
i don't think it increases animosity — instead it promotes the idea of the "salad bowl" rather than "the melting pot" ideal. however, as we discussed in class, many people don't want to be part of the melting pot, so perhaps it is a good way to maintain cultural identity while still feeling included in american culture
I don't think race-specific TV has any necessarily negative effects, but it definitely doesn't contribute to the whole melting pot thing. I think it is important to recognize and celebrate our differences but it also is a little scary thinking that we are all polarizing into our own little communities. America is fundamentally founded on diversity & freedom to be diverse. I feel like there's a fine line between uniting as a country and belonging within your race.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that these different programs or channels that are race or language specific generates more racism than before. Some of my favorite TV shows growing up were comedies that featured mostly African American characters (The Cosby Show, Family Matters), I just wonder if channels like BET stop the spreading of shows like these onto channels with more reach. I don't watch BET... I am not that into hip-hop and what not... maybe I am missing a great TV show that could be doing well on one of the major cable stations but is only available on BET. Who knows?
I agree with most of these comments. I do not think that these channels cause too many issues. People will watch what they want to, no matter what race the television program is seemingly targeted towards.
Good question:) I don't think that the non-white TV shows increase animosity between races, but it may distance the gap between them. These different shows can be in different languages and represent different cultures, which may be hard for everyone to understand or enjoy. However, you can't do away with these shows for that reason. What are you going to do? Somehow have a show with every language and culture represented. Probably not. People can have their different shows and find another way to come together.
I don't think that race/ethnicity-specific channels promote hatred towards certain groups, but I do think they can be harmful to America. Like others have said, they may deepen the divides or cleavages that exist among Americans instead of promoting a common American experience. As people only participate in media specific to their demographic group, they miss out on hearing a wide array of viewpoints that could broaden their perspective. Such media sorting contributes to homogeneity within niche markets, but not among Americans as a whole.
The spanish channel in my opinion is ridiculous. I know it doesn't represent the entertainment of every mexican-american. While we're on the topic, I think race/ethnicity-specific channels need to be careful of what all they put on their shows, because it could cause people to generalize its content and assume things of the ethnic group that are not true.
The segmentation of television helps increase cultural awareness. I think it doesn't isolate non-whites, but gives them opportunity to experience their own culture and help others experience their culture.
Interesting question. I think the different channels contribute to the idea that the United States are a salad bowl rather than a melting pot. They allow people to remain connected to their culture. Like as has been mentioned several times, those channels just focus on a specific demographic like all TV channels.
I don't think race specific television increases animosity towards non-whites because like you said, there are different race specific shows geared towards different races.
I don't think that race-specific television furthers the nonwhite animosity, but rather diminishes it. I think it shows an acceptance of different cultures and languages. I've seen plenty of shows where they try to incorporate every race into the show to make it "PC," but it's phony. It pushes the "melting pot" idea that we're all becoming American and shedding our cultural differences, when rather those cultural differences should be celebrated. I guess the question is, what is more effective in diminishing nonwhite animosity: PC all-inclusive shows (which aren't bad, I rather enjoy them) or niche stations. I think neither are bad, and perhaps both work, but niche stations are more authentic and guard a specific culture or races values.
I don't think it has an effect either way. People get sucked into these shows and often don't consider the 'bigger' picture. I agree with the first comment, though, that as soon as the shows move into comments on race or discrimination, they begin to push people apart.
I absolutely do not think that nonwhite channels further animosity between races. It is sad when we as Americans go in to other countries and expect them to speak english and have television stations with english speaking channels, while we have no tolerance for anyone here who struggles to learn our language. We should appreciate the fact that there are stations that are accommodating to people from other cultures. Unfortunately, many white Americans take offense to the idea that there are cultural specific channels, even though basically every other channel is for white people. I think its important we try to put ourselves in other peoples shoes to understand how they feel as either a minority or whatever. A little bit of humility never hurt either.
I don't see a problem with race/ethnicity channels. While I was visiting Brazil after my mission I was in a hotel watching TV and I didn't like the Brazilian channels and the different programs they showed. I liked watching American channels. I think it is the same way here. People come from all over and certain channels may be more appealing to the different races/ethnic groups of our country.
I don't think that race/ethnic specific television fuels nonwhite animosity toward mainstream Americans. I think it does the exact opposite. I did summer sales selling Dish Network a couple years ago. I ran into a lot of culturally diverse people. Stations that catered to a specific demographic were often great selling points. Knowing that your demographic is recognized and catered to gave people a sense of appreciation for being part of America. On a side note, we can learn a lot about other cultures by watching cultural specific stations.
No, like others have said, I think that it brings culture together. I have no problem with it. Bring on the ethnic television.
I don't think whites feel excluded. I think whites in particular are trying to become more inviting and acceptable of diversity. TV should continue to broadcast shows with people of all ethnicities because this is the norm in everyday life.
Life and culture will just keep becoming more diversified as products and companies try to find the one group that will be "theirs." There almost isn't any general products or channels anymore.
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