Bell Hooks Representing The Poor

In today’s society, the word “poor” has become quite unrecognized for its real meaning and qualities. In the article, “Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor,” noted African American scholar, Gloria Watkins under the pen name bell hooks (1994), addresses how poverty is presented through society and criticizes the misrepresentations made by the higher class and media. Watkins (1994) emphasizes her argument that the dehumanizing form of representing the poor is the root cause low self-esteem among poor people. Poverty is portrayed through a variety systems of representation that have come to create misconceptions about this issue. Throughout the article, hooks (1994) was able to present her argument on the topic of misrepresentations
From this, hooks uses logos to present her claims. Her logical reasoning can also be considered common sense because this issue is due to the manner in which how we come to view the issue itself. By mentioning that “Television shows and films bring the message home that no one can truly feel good about themselves if they are poor” (p. 485), emphasizes that society will cling to this idea and create a misconception of the poor. Hooks (1994) adds “pretty woman is a perfect example of a film that made huge sums of money portraying the poor in this light” (p. 486). hooks (1994) sees these types of films as a method to manipulate the reality of poverty and creates a never ending degradation of the poor. hooks (1994) believes society has become brainwashed by media in representing the poor, we have come to identify class backgrounds with those same perceptions. This in turn, causes individuals to unwillingly admit they are poor. hooks (1994) associates the misrepresentations of media to be the primary factor of shamed-based
As she states “Society is telling them that poverty and nihilism are one and the same. If they cannot escape poverty, they have no choice but to drown in the image of a life that is valueless” (p. 486) People come to see those who live in poverty as worthless and it is just simply because that is how they are valued. She also adds “If the poor in this society is everywhere represented in the language we use to talk about the poor, in the mass media, as synonymous with being nothing, then it is understandable that the poor learn to be nihilistic” (p. 486). hooks (1994) targets the conscience of the reader and triggers emotions such as guilt, sadness, as well as pity to make us rethink how we perceive those who are