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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 societys 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....…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 significat 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 stabilityeven 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. Browns 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 shows premise, as the three main characters are competing for one resourcethe principals 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…
References
Edwards, A., Housley, W., Williams, M., Sloan, L., & Williams, M. (2013). Digitalsocial research, social media and the sociological imagination: Surrogacy, augmentation and re-orientation. International journal of social research methodology, 16(3), 245-260.
Hampton, K. N. (2017). Studying the digital: Directions and challenges for digitalmethods. Annual Review of Sociology, 43, 167-188.
Krippendorff, K. (2018). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sagepublications.
Singh, G., & Pandey, N. (2017). Role and impact of media on society: A sociologicalapproach with respect to demonetisation. IMPACT: International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature, 5(10), 127-136.
Thorpe, H., & Olive, R. (2016). Conducting observations in sport and exercise settings.
In Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise (pp. 146-160). Routledge.
Media type:__TV Show__ Title:__Vice Principals___ Time/Date:___HBO Max_Nov. 2022____CharactersRace/EthnicityGenderAgeSocial StatusBehaviors/Actions/stereotypesNeal GambywhiteM40sMiddle classViolent, opinionated, self-centered, but also with a strong sense of justice; he sees himself as the law enforcer in the school; however, in his personal life he is often conflicted, hypocritical, and inconsistent; ultimately heroic in spite of many bad actions. He becomes Principal of an elementary school in the end.
Lee RussellwhieM40sMiddle classCrude, manipulative, deceptive, lies to get ahead, plots to get revenge, secretive, but ultimately loyal to his friend—his one redeeming quality. He becomes the manager of a fashion chain retail store.
Dr. Belinda BrownblackF40sUpper middle classLikeable and polished on the surface, but capable of being mean and bossy, too. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” she says to Lee, which angers Neal, who is incapable of false pretense. She can inspire students but she is hated by Neal and Lee both, who see her as an outsider and usurper to their “rightful” position as Principal. She eventually quits the job after being blackmailed by Neal and Lee following a spat with her husband. She goes back to Philadelphia to reunite with her husband.
Amanda SnodgrasswhiteF30sMiddle classShe is a well-meaning teacher who tries to do the right thing but lacks the authority and grit sometimes, which is what Neal brings. They eventually fall in loveDayshawnblackM30sLower classThe average man who works the student cafeteria, he sees all things and is Neal’s support in the school, often Neal’s confidanteMi ChaAsianF60sMiddle classLee’s mother-in-law, she is antagonistic to Lee and often complains about his inadequacies.
Dascious BrownblackM40sMiddle classThe neglected husband of Dr. Brown, he comes to town to get his wife and children back and to atone for past sins
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