Vice Principals from a Sociological Perspective

Ethnic Minorities and Conflict

Introduction

How are ethnic minorities depicted in a popular TV show compared to the white characters? The question of how ethnic minorities are depicted in popular TV shows is sociologically important because it can help to reveal underlying attitudes and beliefs about race. I chose to examine this question by comparing the way that white and minority characters are portrayed on TV. Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociologists examine the family, education, religion, politics, economics, race, gender, and other areas of social life. They use both qualitative methods (such as interviews, participant observation, and focus groups) to study human behavior in natural settings and quantitative methods (such as surveys and statistical analysis) to measure trends and general patterns. Sociology is important because it helps us to understand the social world around us and how it affects our lives. It can also help us to identify social problems and find ways to solve them. In addition, sociology can provide valuable insights into the behavior of individuals and groups, which can be useful in a variety of fields such as business, health care, law enforcement, and public policy. By analyzing a popular TV show to see how race is constructed and reflected, it is possible to better understand the racial issues that may affect social interactions in society.

Methodology

The show selected for this review was Vice Principals on HBO Max. The criteria used to select the media choice were that it contained a diverse cast and it does not offer a stereotypical presentation of people. That was important because a lot of media often represents people according to tropes and stereotypes. This show was selected because it was written and directed by Danny McBride and Jody Hill, and they have shown in their work that they resist stereotypes in favor of reflecting real life in all its various complexities and ambiguities.

Data was collected by watching all 20 episodes of the two seasons of the show. Each episode was approximately 30 minutes in length. Specifically, I looked at character development, how characters interacted with one another, whether racial bias or prejudice was evident in interactions, what motivated characters, and how ethnic minorities were portrayed in comparison to white characters. The categories that I focused on in my coding sheet were actions and behaviors.

I did not run into many difficulties in my data collection, but some challenges that are typical here are personal bias and subjectivity (Thorpe & Olive, 2016). For instance, this can be both part of the observer and part of the media: This is because the media does not always present an accurate or objective portrayal of reality. Another difficulty is that it can be hard to determine the motives behind why certain things are being shown in the media (Singh & Pandey, 2017). For example, a news program may be more likely to air stories that will generate ratings rather than stories that are important from a sociological perspective. Additionally, it can be difficult to ensure that all relevant media outlets are being observed in order to get a well-rounded picture of what is happening in society (Edwards et al., 2013; Hampton, 2017). These are just some of the difficulties that sociologists need to take into account when using media as a data source. Limitations I ran into for this study were that I was restricted to one TV show. It would be advantageous to compare TV shows and series across genres and even years to see how ethnic minorities are represented in society’s popular media. However, due to time constraints and resources this was not possible.

The primary limitation of content analysis in sociology is that it relies on texts that have already been produced, rather than being based on direct observation or interaction (Krippendorff, 2018). This means that content analysis is limited to understanding what has already been said or written, rather than being able to generate new insights. In addition, content analysis can be time-consuming and labour-intensive, as it often requires manually coding large amounts of data. Finally, content analysis is sometimes criticized for being a potentially biased method, as the researcher’s own assumptions and worldview can influence the coding process. Despite these limitations, content analysis remains a valuable tool for sociological research. When used in conjunction with other methods, it can provide a detailed and nuanced understanding of social phenomena.

Findings and Analysis

The biggest evident pattern in the content is that behavior of the characters is defined by more than just race, although race is a factor in terms of setting or meeting expectations for characters. For instance, Dr. Brown is a no-nonsense black woman underneath a warm, sweet, loud exterior commonly associated with black female stereotypes. Dayshawn, however, is quiet and thoughtful and does not try to meddle in anything above his pay grade. Mi Cha is often seen as meddlesome towards Lee, due to cultural expectations that she has. Overall, the actions and behaviors of characters were drawn by feelings of security vs. insecurity, of right vs. wrong, and of anger vs. peace.

The HBO show Vice Principals provides a rare glimpse into the world of high school administration. Despite its comedic bent, the show has been praised for its accurate portrayal of the challenges and politics that vice principals face on a daily basis. Sociologists have applauded the show for its nuanced exploration of power dynamics within educational institutions. In particular, the show highlights how race and gender can impact one's ability to navigate the systems of power within a school. For example, in one episode, the white male vice principal is challenged to confront the notion of privilege, reverse racism, affirmative action, wounded ego, and more when he is passed over for a promotion in favor of a black female colleague. Though the show is set in a high school, its themes are relevant to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider trying to move up in a hierarchy. In this respect, Vice Principals provides an insightful look at the sociological forces at play in any institution. However, Neal and Lee (passed over vice principals) end up burning down Dr. Brown’s house and humiliating her later on. This could be seen as a sign of racial tension between whites and blacks in America.

The significance of the patterns suggests that race does not define people as there is no shortage of positive interactions among races in the show. However, I noted patterns in the way that race, gender, and power were represented. For example, nearly all of the characters are interchangeable in terms of actions and behaviors. Yet, if the viewer sees race, one might be likely to attribute actions to racial causes or factors. But if race is taken out of the equation, there is little indication that the characters are fundamentally much different one from the other. Dr. Brown forces Neal to fire a long-time secretary just to test him. Neal and Lee act atrociously towards Dr. Brown in retaliation for what they perceive to be her oppressive antics. Mi Cha and Lee square off like adversaries. This pattern is significant because it subverts racial stereotypes while simultaneously anticipating that the viewer will rely on them to formulate judgments. Overall, the show provides a satirical look at the world of localized politics and power plays.

There are a number of different sociological theories that can be used to explain human behavior. One of the most common is functionalism, which stresses the importance of social institutions in shaping individual behavior. According to functionalism, each institution in society serves a specific purpose, and individuals learn to perform their roles in order to maintain the stability of society as a whole. This idea is explored in Vice Principals as the characters try to navigate their own personal shortcomings in order to facilitate that stability—even though by their own actions they often contribute to the instability of the society (for instance, Neal gets shot by a jilted lover who goes on to wreak havoc; Dr. Brown’s house is burned down). Another popular theory is conflict theory, which emphasizes the role of power and conflict in shaping social relationships. According to conflict theory, groups within society compete for scarce resources, and this competition leads to conflict and social change. This theory best explains the show’s premise, as the three main characters are competing for one resource—the principal’s chair. Local consequences of these patterns show that people in society need to look past self-interest if they want to foster stability in society.

Conclusion

The HBO show Vice Principals is a comedy that follows the misadventures of two high school administrators who are vying for the position of principal. From a conflict theory standpoint, the actions and behaviors of the characters can best be explained. Ethnic minorities in the show behave no differently from white characters. Instead, power plays are the dominant idea at work, which is inherent in conflict theory. From a sociological perspective, the show helps to explain why conflicts arise in local societies. For further research, I would look at how conflict is resolved in these types of situations.

References

Edwards, A., Housley, W., Williams, M., Sloan, L., & Williams, M. (2013). Digital