Descriptive Representation in the News
Representation is everything. This earth is full of people from all walks of life. Cultures and languages that differ from region to region. I want to focus on two groups: the rich and the poor. Everyone might be different from different places but we all have in common the wealth gap. When you watch a video, pertaining to those who come from wealth, you see fancy cars and big houses. When you watch a video, pertaining to those who do not come from wealth, you see small houses and rarely any vehicles. Individuals walk or use old bikes to get around. No personal drivers. I want to make a point as it pertains to the difference in presentation to the world. On television Africa was depicted as this poor continent riddled with war and lack of food and water. You saw children starving and parents who were unable to make ends meet. No sign of wealth or development to grow the country. It's under-represented to the world. But what society has failed to realize is the strive Africa has made to change the narrative. South Africa is considered a first world country within Africa. South Africa invested in their country by having state of art roads and hospitals. Making improvements to their education system so students can go beyond the borders of South Africa and the continent. South Africa has television shows that stream number one on Netflix for weeks at a time. They have beautiful vineyards and restaurants. Along with shopping centers filled with the world's luxury brands. But you would never know because the world depicted Africa as a poor country. You would not know that Kenya has the most beautiful safari parks and a league of youtubers making a name for themselves. But you would never know because people in Africa struggle to get access to food and medicine.
Switching gears, when you hear of America. You think of wealth. Opportunities are endless. Which is true, you're able to make something of your life. Make it better. But what's covered by the wealth is the true struggle. Most people are homeless within America. Not everyone drives a Rolls Royce or lamborghini. Not everyone has big houses with infinity pools and many struggle to put food on the table. But that is not shown. What's overrepresented is the wealth in America. Not the normal life of regular 9-5 individuals. You're shown the rich and the famous. Not the mailman or the teacher. Society has put so much emphasis on the rich that there is no other way to live. If you're not rich then you almost make nothing of your life. Status and wealth are well represented but not the poor and those trying. It is truly up to us, as a society, to represent and fix the gap between the wealthy and the poor. Everyone should be seen as equal regardless of how much they make or what car they have. At the end of the day we are all humans just trying to make it through this thing called life.
Great post! This post sparked a thought in me! There is so much power that is given to the media when it comes to representing things/ people. The biggest thing I can think of is Jesus. The media for years represented Him as a white man, with blue eyes, and long hair. However, Jesus is middle eastern, meaning He would've had dark hair, dark olive skin, and Jewish traits. Though this is the truth the media has represented something different to us making their representation seem true/ take precedence. The media has the great power of representation in their hands and they must be careful with how they use it because they can be in great error and in a way misinform their viewers (like with Africa in your post).
ReplyDeleteThe article raises an interesting point about the portrayal of wealth and poverty in the media, bringing awareness to how these narratives shape our perceptions of regions and countries. It argues that while Africa is often shown through a lens of poverty and struggle, it has many thriving areas like South Africa and Kenya that are underrepresented. Similarly, in America, the focus is usually on wealth and glamour, ignoring everyday struggles. This disparity in representation influences how we perceive reality and reinforces stereotypes. It’s a great reminder to seek diverse perspectives in media. Great job!
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