MASS MEDIA AND MINORITIESMASS MEDIA AND MINORITIES“WHAT IS MASS MEDIATED CULTURE”“WHAT IS MASS MEDIATED CULTURE”

MASS MEDIA IS MASS MEDIA IS COMPOSED OF LARGE-COMPOSED OF LARGE-SCALE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT USE PRINT OR USE PRINT OR ELECTRONIC MEANS ELECTRONIC MEANS (SUCH AS RADIO, (SUCH AS RADIO, TELEVISION, OR FILM) TELEVISION, OR FILM) TO COMMUNICATION TO COMMUNICATION WITH LARGE NUMBERS WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.OF PEOPLE.

HOW IS CULTURE MEDIATED BY MEDIA?HOW IS CULTURE MEDIATED BY MEDIA?

MEDIA PRESENTS US WITH INFORMATION MEDIA PRESENTS US WITH INFORMATION AND IMAGES ON: 1) HOW THE WORLD IS AND IMAGES ON: 1) HOW THE WORLD IS ORGANIZED, 2) THE SOCIAL RELATIONS ORGANIZED, 2) THE SOCIAL RELATIONS THAT PREVAIL, AND 3) ASSUMPTIONS THAT PREVAIL, AND 3) ASSUMPTIONS (ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS – MEN & WOMEN, (ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS – MEN & WOMEN, MALENESS AND FEMALENESS, PEOPLENESS MALENESS AND FEMALENESS, PEOPLENESS AND PEOPLE OF COLOURNESS) THAT WE USE AND PEOPLE OF COLOURNESS) THAT WE USE WHEN WE CONSTRUCT OUR EVERYDAY WHEN WE CONSTRUCT OUR EVERYDAY LIVESLIVES

MEDIA AS SOCIALIZING AGENTSMEDIA AS SOCIALIZING AGENTSTHEY FUNCTION TO: THEY FUNCTION TO: INFORM US ABOUT EVENTS;INFORM US ABOUT EVENTS; INTRODUCE US TO A WIDE INTRODUCE US TO A WIDE

VARIETY OF PEOPLE;VARIETY OF PEOPLE; PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF

VIEWPOINTS ON CURRENT VIEWPOINTS ON CURRENT ISSUES;ISSUES;

THEY MAKE US AWARE OF THEY MAKE US AWARE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (THAT IF WE PURCHASE THEM, (THAT IF WE PURCHASE THEM, SUPPOSEDLY WILL HELP US TO SUPPOSEDLY WILL HELP US TO ACCEPT OTHERS), AND;ACCEPT OTHERS), AND;

ENTERTAIN US BY PROVIDING ENTERTAIN US BY PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE VICARIOUSLY (THROUGH VICARIOUSLY (THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE’S OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES).EXPERIENCES).

MEDIA IMPACT ON CHILDRENMEDIA IMPACT ON CHILDREN RECENT ESTIMATES RECENT ESTIMATES

INDICATE THAT CLOSE TO INDICATE THAT CLOSE TO 100 PERCENT OF CANADIAN 100 PERCENT OF CANADIAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT LEAST ONE TELEVISION. LEAST ONE TELEVISION. CANADIAN VIEWERS CANADIAN VIEWERS WATCH AN AVERAGE OF 3.3 WATCH AN AVERAGE OF 3.3 HOURS OF TELEVISION PER HOURS OF TELEVISION PER DAY (ADAMS, 1998). THIS DAY (ADAMS, 1998). THIS MEANS THAT THE AVERAGE MEANS THAT THE AVERAGE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WILL SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WILL HAVE SPENT MORE TIME HAVE SPENT MORE TIME WATCHING TELEVISION WATCHING TELEVISION THAN ATTENDING SCHOOLTHAN ATTENDING SCHOOL

Deconstructing The Media

The media constitute a socially constructed system of technologically driven communications that are anything but neutral or passive in delivery. Media are actively involved in shaping messages and circulating meanings.

[Therefore] media is configured by “hidden agendas” and “dominant ideologies” in advancing vested rather than common interests.

[Therefore] media are not only constructed through human agency, they also construct realities by “naturalizing” our perception of the world as necessary and normal rather than conventional and constructed.

Cultural frames of reference are imposed that define some aspects of reality as acceptable and others as unacceptable.

There is a There is a double-edged nature of mediadouble-edged nature of media relations to society and society- relations to society and society-building – it building – it informs informs and it is and it is complicitcomplicit in the information [it is complicit in the information [it is complicit in generating information (in generating information (a view of the worlda view of the world); It has an “); It has an “assumptive assumptive realityreality””

What Are Some Of The Major AssumptionsWhat Are Some Of The Major Assumptions (Those Things That Go Without Saying)(Those Things That Go Without Saying)

  1)1) One is that it is not complicit in social life; That it is merely a mirror on One is that it is not complicit in social life; That it is merely a mirror on the world; That it is (or can be) neutral.the world; That it is (or can be) neutral.

2)2) [Yet sociologists agree] the commitment to “inform” and “entertain” is [Yet sociologists agree] the commitment to “inform” and “entertain” is riddled with hidden agendas that benefit some, handicap others. riddled with hidden agendas that benefit some, handicap others.

3)3) The media establish standards of performance, then fail to live up to The media establish standards of performance, then fail to live up to these expectations, (in effect creating a disjuncture between expectations these expectations, (in effect creating a disjuncture between expectations and reality, both at institutional and public levels.and reality, both at institutional and public levels.

4)4) They generate social problems by virtue of their existence as a big They generate social problems by virtue of their existence as a big business, their status as discourses in defense of profit, and their role as business, their status as discourses in defense of profit, and their role as an instrument of “thought control” in a democratic society. an instrument of “thought control” in a democratic society.

5)5) By examining newscasting, tv programming, advertising, and By examining newscasting, tv programming, advertising, and “internetting,” the media can be shown to exert a negative impact by “internetting,” the media can be shown to exert a negative impact by eliciting mixed messages at odds with the ideals of a progressive society.eliciting mixed messages at odds with the ideals of a progressive society.

6)6) This is tied to the phenomenon of "thought control" – in my usage this This is tied to the phenomenon of "thought control" – in my usage this refers to the ability to inculcate incoherent and at times contradictory refers to the ability to inculcate incoherent and at times contradictory assumptions and beliefs by the mass of the population.assumptions and beliefs by the mass of the population.

THE PHENOMENON OF “THOUGHT CONTROL”

IN MY USAGE THIS REFERS TO THE ABILITY TO EXERT UNDUE INFLUENCE

ONE EXAMPLE REFERS TO THE INCULCATION OF INCOHERENT AND AT TIMES CONTRADICTORY ASSUMPTIONS AND BELIEFS BY THE MASS OF THE POPULATION.

MEDIA AND CRIME: MEDIA AND CRIME: “THE PROCESS OF THOUGHT CONTROL”“THE PROCESS OF THOUGHT CONTROL”

MOST CANADIANS LEARN MOST CANADIANS LEARN ABOUT CRIME THROUGH ABOUT CRIME THROUGH THE MEDIA RATHER THAN THE MEDIA RATHER THAN FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. STORIES ON TELEVISION STORIES ON TELEVISION AND RADIO, AND IN AND RADIO, AND IN NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND BOOKS SHAPE OUR AND BOOKS SHAPE OUR VIEWS ABOUT CRIME AND VIEWS ABOUT CRIME AND CRIMINALS. HOWEVER CRIMINALS. HOWEVER MEDIA DO NOT SIMPLY MEDIA DO NOT SIMPLY “REPORT” THE NEWS. “REPORT” THE NEWS. EDITORS AND REPORTERS EDITORS AND REPORTERS SELECT THE CRIME NEWS SELECT THE CRIME NEWS WE HEAR ABOUT AND WE HEAR ABOUT AND CONSTRUCT THE WAY IN CONSTRUCT THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS PRESENTED.WHICH IT IS PRESENTED.

Fear of crime and the media:Fear of crime and the media:“Does the Matrix have you?”“Does the Matrix have you?”

UNFORTUNATELY THE PICTURE OF CRIME WE UNFORTUNATELY THE PICTURE OF CRIME WE RECEIVE FROM MASS MEDIA IS VERY RECEIVE FROM MASS MEDIA IS VERY INACCURATE. INACCURATE.

EX: WHILE MOST CRIME IS PROPERTY CRIME, EX: WHILE MOST CRIME IS PROPERTY CRIME, MOST STORIES IN THE MEDIA DEAL WITH MOST STORIES IN THE MEDIA DEAL WITH VIOLENT CRIME.VIOLENT CRIME.

GABOR (1994) REVIEWED ALL THE CRIME-GABOR (1994) REVIEWED ALL THE CRIME-RELATED STORIES REPORTED OVER TWO RELATED STORIES REPORTED OVER TWO MONTHS IN AN OTTAWA PAPER: MONTHS IN AN OTTAWA PAPER:

SEVEN PERCENT WERE VIOLENT CRIMES (THE SEVEN PERCENT WERE VIOLENT CRIMES (THE CITY AVERAGED JUST SIX MURDERS PER YEAR).CITY AVERAGED JUST SIX MURDERS PER YEAR).

WHILE VIOLENT CRIMES WERE OVER REPORTED WHILE VIOLENT CRIMES WERE OVER REPORTED – WHITE-COLLAR AND POLITICAL CRIMES WERE – WHITE-COLLAR AND POLITICAL CRIMES WERE ALMOST NEVER REPORTED.ALMOST NEVER REPORTED.

BETWEEN 1990 AND 1996 THE HOMICIDE RATE IN BETWEEN 1990 AND 1996 THE HOMICIDE RATE IN CANADA DECLINED BY ALMOST 20 PERCENT CANADA DECLINED BY ALMOST 20 PERCENT WHILE MURDER COVERAGE ON CBC AND CTV WHILE MURDER COVERAGE ON CBC AND CTV NATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS INCREASED BY 300 NATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS INCREASED BY 300 PERCENT.PERCENT.

CALGARY HAD 12 MURDERS IN 1996, A YEAR THE CALGARY HAD 12 MURDERS IN 1996, A YEAR THE CALGARY HERALD PUBLISHED 1667 MURDER-CALGARY HERALD PUBLISHED 1667 MURDER-RELATED STORIES (NATIONAL MEDIA ARCHIVE, RELATED STORIES (NATIONAL MEDIA ARCHIVE, 1997).1997).

Why does media misrepresent crime?Why does media misrepresent crime?

“If it bleeds it leads” “If it bleeds it leads” STORIES THAT ATTRACT VIEWERS STORIES THAT ATTRACT VIEWERS

OR READERS WILL BOOST RATINGS OR READERS WILL BOOST RATINGS AND CIRCULATION EVEN IF THESE AND CIRCULATION EVEN IF THESE STORIES DO NOT REPRESENT THE STORIES DO NOT REPRESENT THE REALITY OF CRIME.REALITY OF CRIME.

THE INFORMAL RULE IS: “IF IT THE INFORMAL RULE IS: “IF IT BLEEDS IT LEADS” (REFLECTING BLEEDS IT LEADS” (REFLECTING THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC ARE THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC ARE FASCINATED BY FASCINATED BY SENSATIONALIZED, BLOODY SENSATIONALIZED, BLOODY STORIES SUCH AS THOSE OF MASS STORIES SUCH AS THOSE OF MASS MURDERS OR ATTACKS AGAINST MURDERS OR ATTACKS AGAINST HELPLESS SENIOR CITIZENS.)HELPLESS SENIOR CITIZENS.)

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE MEDIA THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE MEDIA IS TO MAKE PROFITS BY SELLING IS TO MAKE PROFITS BY SELLING ADVERTISING.ADVERTISING.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OF CRIME?MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OF CRIME?

CANADIANS GREATLY OVERESTIMATE THE CANADIANS GREATLY OVERESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT IS AMOUNT OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT IS COMMITTED AND HAVE A FEAR OF CRIME THT COMMITTED AND HAVE A FEAR OF CRIME THT IS MORE INTENSE THAN THE RISK OF IS MORE INTENSE THAN THE RISK OF VICTIMIZATION JUSTIFIES.VICTIMIZATION JUSTIFIES.

.EX: ONE SURVEY FOUND THAT THE VAST .EX: ONE SURVEY FOUND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF CANADIANS – 75 PERCENT – MAJORITY OF CANADIANS – 75 PERCENT – FELT THAT MOST CRIMES ARE ACCOMPANIED FELT THAT MOST CRIMES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY VIOLENCE, THROUGH THE TRUE FIGURE IS BY VIOLENCE, THROUGH THE TRUE FIGURE IS LESS THAN 10 PERCENT (DOOB AND ROBERTS, LESS THAN 10 PERCENT (DOOB AND ROBERTS, 1983).1983).

DESPITE A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN CRIME DESPITE A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN CRIME THROUGHOUT THE 1990S AND INTO THE NEW THROUGHOUT THE 1990S AND INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM A SURVEY FOUND THAT MILLENNIUM A SURVEY FOUND THAT CANADIANS ARE MORE FEARFUL OF CRIME CANADIANS ARE MORE FEARFUL OF CRIME THAN THEY WERE IN 1991 (STATS CAN, 1998).THAN THEY WERE IN 1991 (STATS CAN, 1998).

OUR FEARS ARE REINFORCED BY THE GLOBAL OUR FEARS ARE REINFORCED BY THE GLOBAL COVERAGE OF VIOLENCE. TELEVISION CAN COVERAGE OF VIOLENCE. TELEVISION CAN INSTANTLY BRING US EVENTS FROM INSTANTLY BRING US EVENTS FROM ANYWHERE AND VIOLENT CRIMES SUCH AS ANYWHERE AND VIOLENT CRIMES SUCH AS MASS MURDERS IN AUSTRALIA AND IN MASS MURDERS IN AUSTRALIA AND IN SCOTLAND ARE REPORTED AS IMMEDIATELY SCOTLAND ARE REPORTED AS IMMEDIATELY AND AS INTENSELY AS IF THEY HAD AND AS INTENSELY AS IF THEY HAD HAPPENED IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.HAPPENED IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE MEDIA CONSEQUENCES OF THE MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OF CRIME (CON’T)MISREPRESENTATION OF CRIME (CON’T)

THE MEDIA ALSO PROVIDE US WITH A DISTORTED THE MEDIA ALSO PROVIDE US WITH A DISTORTED STEREOTYPE OF OFFENDERS. VIOLENT CRIMES ARE STEREOTYPE OF OFFENDERS. VIOLENT CRIMES ARE MOST OFTEN COMMITTED BY RELATIVES, FRIENDS, MOST OFTEN COMMITTED BY RELATIVES, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTANCES, NOT BY ANONYMOUS AND ACQUAINTANCES, NOT BY ANONYMOUS STRANGERS.STRANGERS.

CORPORATE AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS ARE CORPORATE AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A GREAT DEAL OF SOCIAL HARM, RESPONSIBLE FOR A GREAT DEAL OF SOCIAL HARM, BUT THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE RARELY RECEIVE MUCH BUT THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE RARELY RECEIVE MUCH ATTENTION IN MEDIA.ATTENTION IN MEDIA.

THE FEAR OF CRIME AND OUR IMAGE OF THE THE FEAR OF CRIME AND OUR IMAGE OF THE CRIMINAL HAVE AN IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT CRIMINAL HAVE AN IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT POLICY TOWARD CRIME. ACTUAL CRIME TRENDS POLICY TOWARD CRIME. ACTUAL CRIME TRENDS ARE IRRELEVANT – IF THE PUBLIC FEELS CRIM IS ARE IRRELEVANT – IF THE PUBLIC FEELS CRIM IS OUT OF CONTROL, IT DEMANDS THAT GOVERNMENT OUT OF CONTROL, IT DEMANDS THAT GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHILE CRIME RATES ARE DECLINING, A WHILE CRIME RATES ARE DECLINING, A COMBINATION OF INCREASING MEDIA COVERAGE COMBINATION OF INCREASING MEDIA COVERAGE OF CRIME AND PRESSURE FROM A VARIETY OF OF CRIME AND PRESSURE FROM A VARIETY OF INTEREST GROUPS HAS LED THE FEDERAL INTEREST GROUPS HAS LED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN SEVERAL LAWS GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN SEVERAL LAWS INCLUDING THOSE CONCERNING IMMIGRATION, INCLUDING THOSE CONCERNING IMMIGRATION, YOUNG OFFENDERS, AND FIREARMS.YOUNG OFFENDERS, AND FIREARMS.

Marginalized CommunitiesMarginalized Communities Research challenges the perception Research challenges the perception

that we are all equally likely to be that we are all equally likely to be crime victims by revealing that the crime victims by revealing that the most "most "marginalized groupsmarginalized groups" in " in society have the greatest chance to society have the greatest chance to be victimized by crime.be victimized by crime.

At the same time, At the same time, marginalized marginalized communities have pointed to the communities have pointed to the inadequate responseinadequate response by the state by the state to their victimization == people who to their victimization == people who fit the typical offender profile fit the typical offender profile {stereotype} are "{stereotype} are "over-policedover-policed", ", while those who commit serious while those who commit serious harms but do not hold these harms but do not hold these characteristics are typically "characteristics are typically "under-under-policed"policed"

What Are There (Hidden Or Disguise) What Are There (Hidden Or Disguise) Manifestations Of Racism In The Mass MediaManifestations Of Racism In The Mass Media

A)              A)              INVISIBILITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOURINVISIBILITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOUR – NUMEROUS STUDIES – NUMEROUS STUDIES CONFIRM THAT CANADA’S CONFIRM THAT CANADA’S MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY IS POORLY MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY IS POORLY REFLECTEDREFLECTED IN THE IN THE ADVERTISING, PROGRAMMING, AND NEWS-CASTING ADVERTISING, PROGRAMMING, AND NEWS-CASTING SECTORS SECTORS OF POPULAR MEDIA; OF POPULAR MEDIA; DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING.DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING.

IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE OF COLOUR IN MEDIA ARE “SEGREGATED” ON IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE OF COLOUR IN MEDIA ARE “SEGREGATED” ON SEPARATE SHOWS OR FORUMS – IN OTHERS THEY ARE INTEGRATED INTO SEPARATE SHOWS OR FORUMS – IN OTHERS THEY ARE INTEGRATED INTO “MAINSTREAM” AS TOKENS WHO MUST ADOPT A MAINSTREAM-LIKE “MAINSTREAM” AS TOKENS WHO MUST ADOPT A MAINSTREAM-LIKE PERSONA. (BOTH ARE FORMS OF NON-ACCEPTANCE). PERSONA. (BOTH ARE FORMS OF NON-ACCEPTANCE). 

B)              B)              STEREOTYPICAL PORTRAYALSSTEREOTYPICAL PORTRAYALS – EVERYWHERE IMAGES OF RACIAL – EVERYWHERE IMAGES OF RACIAL MINORITIES ARE STEEPED IN UNFOUNDED GENERALIZATIONS THAT MINORITIES ARE STEEPED IN UNFOUNDED GENERALIZATIONS THAT EMPHASIZE THE COMICAL OR GROTESQUE. EMPHASIZE THE COMICAL OR GROTESQUE. 

EX: -- EX: -- AUNT JEMIMAAUNT JEMIMA HAS APPEARED ON HAS APPEARED ON BOXES OF PANCAKE MIXBOXES OF PANCAKE MIX FOR FOR OVER OVER 100 YEARS100 YEARS. (THE SMILING BLACK WOMAN, WHOSE HEAD USED TO BE . (THE SMILING BLACK WOMAN, WHOSE HEAD USED TO BE WRAPPED IN A KERCHIEF REMINISCENT OF A WRAPPED IN A KERCHIEF REMINISCENT OF A MAMMY/SERVANT IMAGEMAMMY/SERVANT IMAGE.) .) RASTUSRASTUS IS STILL THE IS STILL THE CREAM OF WHEAT CHEFCREAM OF WHEAT CHEF, AND , AND UNCLE BENUNCLE BEN IS THE IS THE SMILING GRANDFATHERLY BLACK MAN ON THE SMILING GRANDFATHERLY BLACK MAN ON THE BOXES OF RICEBOXES OF RICE FOR MORE FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. THESETHAN HALF A CENTURY. THESE IMAGES IMAGES, CREATED DECADES AGO, ARE , CREATED DECADES AGO, ARE WOVEN INTO POPULARWOVEN INTO POPULAR CULTURE (AND PROMOTE WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL CULTURE (AND PROMOTE WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL ““SIMPLE-MINDED SERVANT” STEREOTYPESSIMPLE-MINDED SERVANT” STEREOTYPES).).

C)              STEREOTYPES ARE A KIND OF “C)              STEREOTYPES ARE A KIND OF “CONVENIENT SHORTHANDCONVENIENT SHORTHAND” – ” – SIMPLIFY MEDIA PROCESS. MEDIA MOVERS JUST TAP INTO A SIMPLIFY MEDIA PROCESS. MEDIA MOVERS JUST TAP INTO A POOL OF POOL OF STEREOTYPESSTEREOTYPES TO TO CREATECREATE A READILY IDENTIFIABLE A READILY IDENTIFIABLE FRAMES (TROPES)FRAMES (TROPES) THAT IMPOSE A THAT IMPOSE A THEMATIC COHERENCETHEMATIC COHERENCE THAT THAT AUDIENCES CAN RELATE TOAUDIENCES CAN RELATE TO BECAUSE OF SHARED CULTURAL CODES. BECAUSE OF SHARED CULTURAL CODES.

MEDIA AND CULTURAL HEGEMONY“HIDDEN AGENDAS AND DOMINANT IDEOLOGIES”

REFERS TO THE SUPREMACY OF A GROUP WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF IN TWO WAYS: AS DOMINATION AND INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP (GRAMSCI, 1971; GIROUX, 1981).

SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BELIEVE WITH THE CHANGING FORMS OF DOMINATION THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES, WITH THE RISE OF MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL CONTROL HAS BEEN EXERCISED LESS THROUGH THE USE OF PHYSICAL DETERRENTS AND INCREASINGLY THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF NORMS AND IMPERATIVES.

.THOUGHT CONTROL ON A MASS SCALE LEADS TO A SUBTLE AND ACCOMPLISHED SOCIAL CONTROL HERETOFORE NON-EXISTENT.

THECRIMINALBLACKMAN IN HER 1998 BOOK, THE COLOR OF CRIME, KATHRYN RUSSELL

SPEAKS OF THE "CRIMINALBLACKMAN."

THE CRIMINALBLACKMAN IS A COMPOSITE OF WHITE FEARS OF BLACK MEN’S CRIMINALITY == IT MAY BECOME SO STRONG AND SO WIDESPREAD THAT IT ALLOWS FOR “RACIAL HOAXES,” IN WHICH A WHITE OFFENDER BLAMES AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, USUALLY MALE, FOR THE OFFENSE IN QUESTION AND IS READILY BELIEVED BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENTS AND/OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

{{{EX: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MEDIA COVERAGE— INFLUENCES PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF SERIOUS CRIME AS LARGELY A MATTER OF RACE, REAL ESTATE (INCORPORATING CLASS AND AREA), AND FAMILY CONSTITUTION [LEADING TO AN INDICTMENT OF FAILED “MOTHERS” {RACIALIZED AND GENDER-IZED BY WHITE PATRIARCHY]}}}

MEDIA MITIGATES AGAINST MULTICULTURALISMMEDIA MITIGATES AGAINST MULTICULTURALISM

MEDIA ACTS TO ABET DOMINATION AND INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP -- NORMS, VALUES, AND ASSUMPTIONS -- OF WHITE, MALE DOMINATED INSTITUTIONS.

{FINE, BUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?} – THIS CONTINUES TO PREVENT THE MASS MEDIA FROM FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY REFLECTING AND REPRESENTING THE MULTIRACIAL REALITY OF CANADIAN SOCIETY.

WHITE ELITES CONTROL THE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS OF THE MASS MEDIA, IT MAY BE EXPECTED THAT THE WHITE PRESS SHARES IN THE OVERALL SYSTEM THAT “SUSTAINS WHITE GROUP DOMINANCE”

THE EUROPEAN GAZE WHEN A NEWS STORY IS TOLD FROM A MALE, PARTICULARLY A

EUROPEAN-NORTH-AMERICAN MALE POINT OF VIEW, THE STANDPOINT OF THE REPORTER OR EDITOR IS NOT NOTED. IT IS ASSUMED TO BE A GENERAL, UNBIASED, OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW.

WHEN THE STORY IS TOLD FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A PERSON OF COLOUR, IT IS COMMON FOR THE POINT OF VIEW TO BE DEEMED A "SPECIAL INTEREST" AND THE STANDPOINT TO BE SEEN AS "NOT OBJECTIVE." THE WORDS OR VIEWS ARE MODIFIED TO PRESENT THEM TO A EUROPEAN MALE GAZE.

MEDIA IS COMPLICIT IN ENTRENCHING DOMINANT, OR "HEGEMONIC,"

SOCIAL PATTERNS OF WHO IS IMPORTANT, WHOSE WORDS ARE WORTH MORE AIR TIME, WHOSE GAZE IS CONSIDERED THE GAZE, WHO HAS POWER.

YET -- IN A SOCIETY THAT CLAIMS ALL PEOPLE ARE INDIVIDUALS, NO ONE GROUP HAS A MONOPOLY ON OBJECTIVITY, AND IN ORDER TO WORK TOWARD A SOCIETY THAT IS TRULY FAIR AND JUST TO ALL, WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE SOCIAL WORLD.