Contribution of the Media in the Disintegration of the Hispanic Community

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Contribution of the Media in the Disintegration of the Hispanic Community

Hispanic identity is a spectrum. There are numerous cultures and ethnicities that compose the Latin American identity. Representations of Latinos and Hispanics on American television are limited and reflect cultural bias. There are rarely depictions of successful Hispanic business owners or as government agents/employees. Only in the past few decades has attention be formally paid to the quality and quantity of Latino representations in American media. Representations of this group have increased since the late 20th century, yet there are still relatively scarce representations of Latinos, and many of the ones that are present are stereotypical. Stereotypical depictions of Latin Americans on television impact non-Latinos' perceptions and attitudes toward Hispanics. Hispanics are affected by media representations of their heritage that results in a reshaping of the cultural identity and potentially harming the self-esteem of Hispanic people. Other Hispanics, unable to relate or enjoy the limited and denigrating representations of their people refrain from consuming media in large portions or altogether. The American media contributes to the erosion of the Hispanic community and the Hispanic identity.

As a Latino, it is important for me to examine and consider representations of my culture in popular forms of media. While of course each person has the power to make his/her own decisions, modern research shows that media has direct influence upon consumers' decisions, behaviors, and attitudes. This is a reason why the representations of Hispanics in the media are a concern.

Evidence accumulated over the past 3 decades indicates that television exposure has a far-reaching impact on young audiences. With its appealing visual images, dynamic character portrayals, and provocative messages, television has emerged as a powerful agent of socialization, shaping adolescent's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the world. Its social lessons are not always benevolent, however. Indeed, a growing body of research indicates that frequent exposure to television is associated with increased aggression and tolerance of aggression…stereotypical attitudes about gender and sexuality…distorted perceptions of real world roles…and poor body image…Moreover, because television teaches not only by what it shows, but also by what it does not show…concern is frequently expressed that the lack of representation of various social groups, such as ethnic minorities, might negatively affect young viewers. (Ward et al., Distorted Reflections, Page 262 -- 263)

This is an important reason to examine cultural media representations as well as media representations gender, especially in America. Americans have demonstrated a distinct and prominent habit of acting and thinking based on the media representations of cultures they do not belong to (depending on the individual, but in this case, it would be all non-Hispanic or Latino people). Americans consume and produce a considerable amount of television compared to the rest of the world; therefore American culture is culturally predisposed to have a greater connection to television and that television has a greater impact on American audiences relative to others around the globe. Representations of Latinos on television often include drug dealers, gangbangers, and other particularly violent criminals. They also include a narrow representation out of the many different Hispanic peoples in the world. It is not as if all Hispanics are Mexican or all Spanish. There is ample diversity in the Hispanic community that American media does not often or positively expose.

Inadequate media representations of Hispanics have detrimental affects upon this community that do not often go noticed.

Seldom, however, do we look at the ways in which people respond to these culturally specific media and to the "Latinness" so promoted by their programming and representations. Do the media forge a greater degree of self-identification with this ethnic category among the amalgams of people that are supposedly included in this group? Have they, by lumping together many different groups in one category, in effect excluded particular groups from media representations of latinidad? (Davila, Talking back, Page 37)

Those who are deeply affected by media may feel isolated, depressed, or just not feel confidence because of how television (and films shown on television) depict Latinos. The effects may be subtle and they may be overwhelming in some cases. The intensity of the effects depend upon the individual, the media, and the environment. What is consistent though, despite individual differences, is that people feel, while they watch television as well as when they are in the world interacting with other television viewers, that what people see in the media about their culture affects their thoughts and actions towards this group.