This is our series on representations in media, highlighting how creators have portrayed various communities in the past and present, and where we hope to see these portrayals move in the future. We will continue to add new features periodically. This box serves as an introduction to the concept of representation in media featuring academic texts and scholarly articles on the topic. In the broadest stokes, representation refers to the portrayal of people, groups, and communities in the media including television, film, and books.
Audiences have also called for a greater diversity of religion, body type, nationality, and more to be portrayed on screen. In trying to increase representation, however, characters and plot lines can often fall into stereotypical depictions or tired tropes , especially when stories and characters are written or portrayed by members who are not part of a given group.
According to Maja Hardikar, "the line between stereotype and representation is thin The features on this page discuss the histories of various stereotypes, which often originated from the first appearances members of a said group on screen take, for example, "The Dragon Lady" or "The Gay Best Friend".
Though representation might seem trivial, studies have shown that in some instances, the dissemination of diverse media is actually a transformative action. Representation is only the beginning of a more equitable world for people whose identities do not afford them safety in the societies in which they live. Systemic, liberatory change requires deeper, more sustained movement, political activism, and community-building.
It is important to remember, however, that diverse representation can have dramatic, empowering , and beneficial effects on people's lives, especially when those representations depict complex characters in robust, nuanced stories. Sources: Bond, B. Georgetown University. The guide serves only as an introduction and highlights texts in our collection that focus on Asian American representation in the media.
