Despite Book, after Report, after Survey that states the obvious, that
TV is the preeminent "educator/brainwasher", and that peoples perception
of REAL is influenced heavily by REEL, there are still those "testa duras"
amongst us that
insist on being "flat earthers."
Here is still another Report " TV's Impact on Ethnic Images published
by the
Center for Media and Public Affairs.
.. "many students treat television entertainment as an ACCURATE representation of REAL life. Therefore, the ethnic characters portrayed on television can have a SIGNIFICANT effect on students' SELF- perceptions as well as their perceptions of OTHER ethnic groups.
..The more students LIKE TV characters, the more they regard them as TYPICAL of their ethnic group...
...an ethnic character, positive or negative, may LEGITIMIZE him or her as an individual worthy of admiration, if not EMULATION...
..Many students see TV entertainment as REALISTIC. 40% say they learn a lot from TV. 25% say TV shows what life is really like. 24% say people on TV are like real life...
...ITALIAN CHARACTERS ARE RATED AS MOST TYPICAL OF THEIR REAL-LIFE ETHNIC GROUP BY BOTH ITALIAN AND NON ITALIAN STUDENTS......
Now, isn't that a comforting thought with the torrent of Italian Mafia/Soprano images that flood our TV screens. :(
Should anyone wonder, why I might be indignantly disapointed with those
who
express their endorsement of The Sopranos with, "But, I like it", as
if it was of no greater social significance than "Little Mikey" expressing
his appreciation of his breakfast cereal.
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TELEVISION'S IMPACT ON ETHNIC AND RACIAL IMAGES:
A STUDY OF HOWARD BEACH ADOLESCENTS
The Center for Media and Public Affairs
Executive Summary
This study examines the relationship between television viewing and attitudes toward ethnic and racial groups among students in a racially and ethnically mixed New York City high school.
It finds that many students treat television entertainment as an accurate representation of real life. Therefore, the ethnic characters portrayed on television can have a significant effect on students' self-perceptions as well as their perceptions of other ethnic groups.
Overall, students approve of television's ethnic characters and consider them typical of their groups. This finding applies not only to positive characters like Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable or "Hill Street"'s Frank Furillo, but even to those who embody negative traits, such as George Jefferson or "Taxi"'s Louis DePalma.
Further, those who approve of TV characters are most likely to express positive views of the characters' ethnic or racial groups.
This suggests that the continuing appearance of an ethnic character, positive or negative, may legitimize him or her as an individual worthy of admiration, if not emulation. Students may thus receive ambiguous moral messages about how ethnic types and people in general should behave.
MAJOR FINDINGS
Many students see TV entertainment as realistic. 40% say they learn a lot from TV. 25% say TV shows what life is really like. 24% say people on TV are like real life.
Blacks especially use TV to learn about life. A majority (51%) learn a lot from TV. 30 % say the same things happen in TV and real life. 23% identify often with ethnic TV characters.
TV may influence positive images of ethnic groups in real life. 26% say TV influences their racial and ethnic attitudes.
The more students like TV characters, the more they regard them as typical of their ethnic group.
Ratings of TV characters cut across racial lines. TV's Black characters rate highest, even among the non-Black students.
Italian characters are rated as most typical of their real-life ethnic group by both Italian and non-Italian students.
All ethnic characters get favorable ratings. Jewish students respond
most positively to ethnic characters across the board.
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CMPA Archive-- TELEVISION'S IMPACT ON ETHNIC AND RACIAL IMAGES: A STUDY
OF HOWARD BEACH ADOLESCENTS
http://cmpa.com/archive/howardbh.htm
===================================================
ACCENTUATE the Positive, ELIMINATE the Negative!!!!
Speaking out with One Voice against Negative Stereotyping
Italian-American One Voice Coalition is a national network of activists enabling the Italian American community to act as one united voice when dealing with defamation, discrimination and negative stereotyping.
Member organizations provide a liaison with the IA One Voice Coalition to disseminate information to the Italian American community and protest with one voice against each outrage against our heritage, culture and character.
Italian American One Voice - Who We Are
Web Site:
Italian American One Voice Coalition
http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iaindex.html
