The Media and Stereotypes

The World Map of Useless Stereotypes
Christoph Niemann

Today there are many impacts that the media has on our lives, some more positive than others. One negative aspect of the media today that has existed for some time now are stereotypes. What are stereotypes? Well for those who don't know stereotypes are: fixed and oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing. Most stereotypes are sexual or racial. Stereotypes are used all over the world, in fact they are seen everyday, heard everyday, and used everyday. We see them on TV, in books, and magazines. Stereotypes today are so strong and overused its impossible not to notice them. To the right is a photo of The World Map of Useless Stereotypes. This poster outlines some stereotypes of countries and what they use to define each other. 

There are many other examples of stereotypes other than the ones seen in the poster, some more harsh than others. Some even hit us where we live. For example after the 9/11 terrorist attack many middle eastern cultures and races became victims of stereotypes. These stereotypes pinpointed them and labeled all people who come from the middle east as terrorists. In more recent news there was a article published by The Guardian that was about negative stereotypes being created by a British TV series and its advertisements; the show is called Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. This show airs on Channel 4 on British TV networks and many of its advertising posters where seen as offensive much like the one seen above to the left. Britain's Advertising Standards Authority ruled the advertising campaign as "irresponsible, offensive, and reaffirmed negative stereotypes" that were directed toward the Traveller and Gypsy communities. Many of the other posters used in the advertising campaign also down played the Gypsy community and has left them victim to new negative stereotypes. 

Stereotypes are all over the word and are greatly portrayed by the media and the worldly events that happen daily. Most stereotypes come from movies, TV, and the internet. They have a huge impact on the way people see other cultures and races and they even effect how people treat those cultures. Stereotypes can indeed be seen as a negative aspect created by the media. 

The World Map of Useless Stereotypes (For a closer look): http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/the-world-map-of-useless-stereotypes/

The Guardian Stereotype article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/oct/03/big-fat-gypsy-weddings-stereotypes