Representation

Representation on screen

Why diversity in mass media matters

On children’s phones, iPads, TVs and laptops alike, they nd out that one of their favorite Disney movies, ‘ e Little Mermaid,’ will be remade as a live-action movie. ey quickly search for the trailer and when they begin to watch it, feelings of shock mixed with pure joy start to erupt, especially for Black kids. On their screens, they see a Black woman embody the newest version of Ariel, especially for Black kids. On their screens, they see a Black woman embody the newest version of Ariel, the main character in the movie. the main character in the movie. On Sept. 9, ‘ e Little Mermaid’ live-action trailer came out. is immediately caused both positive On Sept. 9, ‘ e Little Mermaid’ live-action trailer came out. is immediately caused both positive and negative reactions on multiple platforms such as Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. is is due to the and negative reactions on multiple platforms such as Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. is is due to the fact that the trailer revealed what Ariel would look like in the newly imagined lm: a Black mermaid, fact that the trailer revealed what Ariel would look like in the newly imagined lm: a Black mermaid, played by Halle Bailey, who has deep red locks. Many comments expressed that the change in looks played by Halle Bailey, who has deep red locks. Many comments expressed that the change in looks completely ‘ruins the entire story’ and critics even went as far as accumulating 1.5 million dislikes on completely ‘ruins the entire story’ and critics even went as far as accumulating 1.5 million dislikes on the trailer on YouTube. the trailer on YouTube. Amidst all the chaos, there were many articles, reactions and in uencers that surfaced revealing how Amidst all the chaos, there were many articles, reactions and in uencers that surfaced revealing how important it was to have that kind of representation in a lm as big as Disney’s ‘ e Little Mermaid.’ important it was to have that kind of representation in a lm as big as Disney’s ‘ e Little Mermaid.’ According to National Public Radio (NPR), many TikToks were posted showcasing Black chldren’s According to National Public Radio (NPR), many TikToks were posted showcasing Black chldren’s unimaginable pride when they saw that there was a famous childhood character that looked like them. unimaginable pride when they saw that there was a famous childhood character that looked like them. Great Blue Hill, an educational TV foundation, reported how important it was for children to see Great Blue Hill, an educational TV foundation, reported how important it was for children to see themselves being represented in terms of race, gender and religion on mass media platforms. erefore, themselves being represented in terms of race, gender and religion on mass media platforms. erefore, kids of all backgrounds are able to learn that they are capable of anything that they put their minds to, kids of all backgrounds are able to learn that they are capable of anything that they put their minds to, such as having equal opportunity in the media eld. We believe that equitable environments show that such as having equal opportunity in the media eld. We believe that equitable environments show that their background should not negatively impact what they do in the future. their background should not negatively impact what they do in the future. According to Racetoacure, a national platform built based on youth empowerment, representation According to Racetoacure, a national platform built based on youth empowerment, representation not only helps children believe in their abilities, but also allows people to understand other cultures, not only helps children believe in their abilities, but also allows people to understand other cultures, beliefs and be more accepting of people with diverse backgrounds. e organization puts further beliefs and be more accepting of people with diverse backgrounds. e organization puts further emphasis on how the British Broadcasting Company explains that diversity in mass media broadens the emphasis on how the British Broadcasting Company explains that diversity in mass media broadens the perception of society and other beliefs around the world. erefore, constant representation in media perception of society and other beliefs around the world. erefore, constant representation in media can normalize diversity in day-to-day interactions and improve people’s overall worldviews. can normalize diversity in day-to-day interactions and improve people’s overall worldviews. While diversity in media can be important for the progressiveness of equality, it can be extremely While diversity in media can be important for the progressiveness of equality, it can be extremely dangerous if not done correctly. Racetoacure o ers the point of how misrepresentation can bleed dangerous if not done correctly. Racetoacure o ers the point of how misrepresentation can bleed through in typecasting and stereotypes of certain cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. Hence, playing into through in typecasting and stereotypes of certain cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. Hence, playing into the misconceptions and built-up categories that have been created to degrade and strip opportunities the misconceptions and built-up categories that have been created to degrade and strip opportunities away from diverse groups of people. away from diverse groups of people. Furthermore, diversity in representation can be a touchy subject for most. While representation, Furthermore, diversity in representation can be a touchy subject for most. While representation, when done right, can be viewed as a way to empower young people of color and inspire them to believe when done right, can be viewed as a way to empower young people of color and inspire them to believe in their abilities, some believe changing the image of a character, such as in ‘ e Little Mermaid’, is in their abilities, some believe changing the image of a character, such as in ‘ e Little Mermaid’, is detrimental to their own childhood by ruining their perception of the story they grew up on. detrimental to their own childhood by ruining their perception of the story they grew up on. is poses the question: How can representation be prioritized while also staying true to the lm’s is poses the question: How can representation be prioritized while also staying true to the lm’s impact on the audience? e solution for this should include creating diverse characters in the rst impact on the audience? e solution for this should include creating diverse characters in the rst place. Rather than substituting an originally White character with one of color to show representation, place. Rather than substituting an originally White character with one of color to show representation, new characters should be produced that are originally a show of diversity. is allows for the satisfaction new characters should be produced that are originally a show of diversity. is allows for the satisfaction of stories staying true to how people remembered and imagined them while also creating equal of stories staying true to how people remembered and imagined them while also creating equal opportunity for di erent backgrounds to be normalized and beloved just like any other character. opportunity for di erent backgrounds to be normalized and beloved just like any other character.

@MalakSamara samarmal000@hsestudents.org @VedaThangudu thangved000@hsestudents.org