Film and Race

Conceptual Tools and Empirical Data

PDF Link: C. Winter Han, "From 'Little Brown Brothers' to 'Queer Asian Wives': Constructing the Asian Male Body"

PDF Link: Dana Mastro, "Race and Ethnicity in US Media Content and Effects"

PDF Link: Jasmine Acebes, "Cultural Representation in Hollywood"

Moving Beyond ‘Performative’ Diversity Commitments - Presidian BlogDennis Kennedy, Founder and Chair of National Diversity Council, says we must go beyond short-term, performative commitments to achieve real change.

Diversity isn’t enough: Why actors like John Boyega are fed upIf Hollywood's workplace culture remains unchanged, then the very people hired in the spirit of diversity are being set up to fail

2020 Hollywood Diversity Report: A different story behind the scenesThe research shows indications that the film industry is starting to get the message that diversity sells.

Women and People of Color Still Underrepresented Behind the Scenes, Study SaysRepresentation of women and people of color in feature films has never been better in Hollywood — if it’s on screen. The film industry’s efforts to diversify leading roles and especiall…

What Hollywood movies do to perpetuate racial stereotypes | DW | 21.02.2019Cinematic stereotypes reflect and shape common prejudices. Perceptions can be influenced by portrayals of Asians as nerdy, black men as dangerous and Latinas as fiery. So, how does Hollywood portray various groups?

EVERY SINGLE WORDEvery Single Word Spoken by a Person of Color in [Mainstream Film Title]

Forming a Critical Sense of Race with Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" | JSTOR DailyInterpretations of Do The Right Thing may differ by race.

Discussions and Examples

The future of storytelling"We all feel a compelling need to watch stories, to tell stories ... to discuss the things that tell each one of us that we are not alone in the world," says TV titan Shonda Rhimes. A dominant force in television since "Grey's Anatomy" hit the airwaves, Rhimes discusses the future of media networks, how she's using her narrative-building skills as a force for good, an intriguing concept known as "Amish summers" and much more, in conversation with Cyndi Stivers, director of the TED Residency.

My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacleHollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media -- and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Presence creates possibility," she says. "Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures."

The Riz Test: how Muslims are misrepresented in film and TVMuslims have long been unfairly stereotyped in films and on TV.

The pride and power of representation in filmOn the heels of the breakout success of his film "Crazy Rich Asians," director Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create -- and makes a resounding case for the power of connection and on-screen representation.

Nina Simone's Face and the Realities of BlacknessThe upcoming biopic about the singer proves that the world still isn’t ready to tell her story.

How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History OnscreenBlack creators are telling forgotten chapters of Black history, determined to reject white-savior narratives and center Black interiority

17 Binge-Worthy TV Shows That Are Constantly Breaking The Boundaries Of Representation Just in case you were looking for something new to watch...

How a Podcast Revisits Milestones of Asian American Representation in the ‘Star Trek’ UniverseWith the third season of “Star Trek: Discovery” airing its finale on Thursday, Jan. 7, it is difficult to overstate what a significant milestone this season marked for representation ac…

Pixar’s Troubled “Soul”The most glaring artistic error in “Soul” is its misprision—its elision, really—of what soul means for black culture.

Salma Hayek Was Told It Was "Impossible" For Her To "Have A Leading Role In Hollywood""They told me a Mexican is never going to make it."

YouTube Playlist

A collection of various videos, interviews, and analyses that you may draw inspiration from. You can add to the playlist as well, or use it as a starting point to curate your own, more specific set.

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