For my final project, I focused on Latinx representation in media and pulled some interesting facts and figures from a research project done by USC Annenberg as well as some additional research on my own. It was so disheartening to see how little and how poorly Latinx people are represented in film and television!
Researchers say that Latinx and Hispanics:
- go to the movies more often and in larger groups
- spend more at concession stands
- and talk about movies more on social media.
Backed by numbers, they are by far the most important and highest contributing audience in cinema.
Unfortunately, Hollywood studios don’t take advantage of this fact. Among all underrepresented groups, Latinx are one of the least likely to be seen on screen.
When they are casted in films and tv shows, they’re most likely playing a negative stereotype. Latinx characters are the most likely to be sexualized on screen, more than any other underrepresented group.
Sereotypes that are often tied to Latinx characters in media include violent and abusive husbands and boyfriends, dangerous gangsters and thugs, illegal immigrants and housekeepers that barely speak English.
It’s important to remember that not all representation is good representation.
I put together this information into an infographic to go along with a short article/blog post that you can see on my website. I also turned the infographic into a short animated video. The infographic and article will also be published in the last issue of The Gothic Times, out May 9th.
Sources: Motion Picture Association of America, USC Annenberg, The Movie Database, Mic, LatinPost, NBC
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