With reference to any group you have studied discuss how their ‘identity’ has been mediated

The term race refers to groups of people who have differences and similarities in biological traits deemed by society to be socially significant. Within this essay I will approach how Race has been represented throughout the media and how identity has been meditated.

Theorist such as Stuart Hall give emphasis to the importance of visual representation.  Hall argues that black people are often stereotyped and this is due to the media and how it represents black people.  Hall  argues that the ‘blacks’ appeared on TV often in a racially stereotyping position. An example could be the movie ‘Kiddulthood’ The representation of black youth is portrayed by the stereotypical idea of street crime with youth's. The features of the film mainly consist of violence, drugs and sex.

Television and visual representation are important in today’s society especially when it’s through someone’s identity.  In our society it is hard to find your own ‘identity’. Theorist such as Akiniti (2003) argues that the television coverage of the ethnic minorities on Black people always focuses on AIDS in Africa, Underachievement of black people in schools. Akiniti states that it focuses on the down side.  Furthermore other sociologists such as Hall somewhat agree; In 1971 he made an appearance on BBC television where he criticized the portrayal of the blacks. ‘’There is something wrong  with the way black immigrants, west Indians, Asians, Africans – are handled by and presented on the Mass Media.  This clearly shows that the portrayal of Blacks are being down sided and it makes it harder for the upcoming youth to find their own identities without the media representing them in a charitable way.    

However visual representation such as ‘Hitch’ which is a movie stared by a black protagonist who is doctor who helps clients who are mostly white. This movie does break out of the stereotypical ‘black man’ character and his clothing tells us he is quite a wealthy man. However in some scenes we do see stereotypical prospect such as when he teaches the white man how to dance. The stereotype is that white men can’t dance and black men can.  This shows that a stereotype in race happens to every ethnic group/race. 

Race can become an issue when looking at identity. The visual representation of Race and identity are somewhat being mediated. Sociologists such as Hall argue that media do represent races in a stereotypical manner which can influence someone’s identity. To conclude the place someone’s from genetically  can somewhat influence them to change their identity and make them socially aware  of how to peruse themselves.