Stereotypes In Popular Media
Wikipedia, the global encyclopedia, defines media as “a means of carrying or communicating information”. Earlier, the most prominent and popular media had been the newspaper and other print materials. Cinema, the moving picture, was then invented. Later, with the advancement of technology, radio and television emerged. As years rolled by, all parts of the globe got connected through the Internet. Several other media were developed using this global network for interaction and communication of messages and information. Media plays an important part in our day-to-day life. “Media is a complex medium of communicating information and ideologies: its use entirely depends on entanglement of social values, economic and political interests” (Oliver
…show more content…
Stereotypes as a form of 'ordering' the mass of complex and inchoate data that we receive from the world are only a particular form -- to do with the representation and categorization of persons -- of the wider process by which any human society, and individuals within it, make sense of that society through generalities, patternings and 'typifications' (Dyer 1).
Stereotypes are often seen as derogatory for an individual. They maintain sharp boundary definitions and maintain the power structure, in this case, of the differently abled and able-bodied. We cannot bring changes in one’s attitude through the enactment of laws. But we can change one’s attitude by changing his or her behaviour. Attitudes, beliefs and misconceptions of society constitute a major barrier for persons with disability. Changes in attitude can be brought about by means of generating awareness and through direct communication between the differently abled and normal people. The mass media can be used as an efficient medium for creating greater understanding and change in the public perception of the differently abled …show more content…
Thus, while the ideas of sensory superiority such as blind crime fighters dodging swords could arguably attributed to the latter, a number of other portrayals such as disability being punitive, or deserving of charity are attributable to a reinforcement of patriarchy that has traditionally come from Indian literature and tradition
Stereotypes as a form of 'ordering' the mass of complex and inchoate data that we receive from the world are only a particular form -- to do with the representation and categorization of persons -- of the wider process by which any human society, and individuals within it, make sense of that society through generalities, patternings and 'typifications' (Dyer 1).
Stereotypes are often seen as derogatory for an individual. They maintain sharp boundary definitions and maintain the power structure, in this case, of the differently abled and able-bodied. We cannot bring changes in one’s attitude through the enactment of laws. But we can change one’s attitude by changing his or her behaviour. Attitudes, beliefs and misconceptions of society constitute a major barrier for persons with disability. Changes in attitude can be brought about by means of generating awareness and through direct communication between the differently abled and normal people. The mass media can be used as an efficient medium for creating greater understanding and change in the public perception of the differently abled …show more content…
Thus, while the ideas of sensory superiority such as blind crime fighters dodging swords could arguably attributed to the latter, a number of other portrayals such as disability being punitive, or deserving of charity are attributable to a reinforcement of patriarchy that has traditionally come from Indian literature and tradition