Acculturation and Ethnicity in Television.

Why are ethnic representations so different than racial representations? To answer this question, we need to have a clear definition of race and how it differs from ethnicity. Race is the physical makeup of DNA; however, this is not how we judge race in our society. Race is often perceived as a difference in skin color or physical appearance. Ethnicity, on the other hand, is defined as a group of people that have the same descent with a common culture and heritage. Race is a classification given to people. Ethnicity, however, can be chosen or accepted to some extent.

So when examining ethnic representations in television, we have to look past the physical differences and take a look at how one’s culture is presented.

When two cultures come into contact, behaviors and attitudes are modified. This modification is known as the acculturation process. Normally, the result of conflicting cultures is the absorption of a minority group into the dominant group, or assimilation. In a new ABC sitcom, “Fresh off the Boat,” we watch the acculturation process of Huang family.

Fresh Off the Boat is the first portrayal of an Asian-American family since 1994, when Margaret Cho’s All American Girl aired for one season. The show is told from the perspective of Eddie Huang, the eldest son in a Taiwanese family. Eddie finds it hard to assimilate, so he continually rejects Chinese culture. His character contrasts with Jessica Huang, Eddie’s mother. Jessica feels a strong connection to her Chinese heritage and she wants her children to carry it on.

Fresh Off the Boat is a major mark of progress in ethnic representation on television. Rather than using “Asian-American” as a blanket term to encompass a variety of cultures, the show consistently focuses on Chinese heritage and the story of a Chinese family. Many were relieved to finally see their experiences shared in network television. Robert Lloyd praises Fresh Off the Boat in his article for the Los Angeles Times. He says the show “does what few television shows do now, which is to make race not beside the point. It sits inside a minority culture and looks with bewilderment and bemusement at the dominant one.”

So is the show a leap in the right direction? Yes. But that does not that mean there aren’t problems. Some Asian-American viewers complained that they could not relate to the family on screen. In this way, the media creates a dichotomy between representing a wide variety of ethnic groups, and simply expressing one’s own story.

Ethnicity is a difficult concept to accurately convey in television shows. When watching shows that feature, or comment on, an ethnic group outside the majority, it’s important to watch for broad generalizations, the lack of different cultural aspects, and inaccuracies. In my opinion, the next step forward in ethnic representations is a more inclusive narrative that allows for unique stories and plots. Until then, it’s up to us to think critically when watching tv.

Representation in Sitcoms

It’s important to study sitcoms and their portrayals when discussing depictions of racial characters in television.

‘Sitcom’ is short for situational comedy, and these types of shows are characterized by 30-minute episode featuring recurring places and characters. In one episode of a sitcom, characters are introduced with a problem, deal with this problem and move on. It’s rare for an episode to not end well; these individuals/families always find a way to come together and restore peace. In this regard, sitcoms are problematic, because they simplify complex problems and emotions.

Sitcoms may seem short and expendable, but they have a profound impact on our understanding of the world and our idea of normalcy. Writers reproduce our everyday experiences in which the actors act like us, thus perpetuating a hegemonic state. We become invested in sitcoms because we watch beloved characters encounter familiar situations; we cry with them, we laugh with them, we grow with them.

Our connection to actors in sitcoms can be beneficial. Maanvi Singh describes the impact of our ‘relationship’ with television characters in his article for NPR. These parasocial friendships with fictional characters can actual change our worldviews for the better. Singh states “as we grow emotionally attached to characters who are part of a minority group, our prejudices tend to recede.” Members of society grow fond of characters that represent a minority and begin to dispel previous bigoted ideas.

A common example of this phenomenon is Will Smith’s character in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Will plays a troubled teenager who moves in with his upper-middle class family to find a better life. Viewers loved his kooky antics, supported him through his hardships, and stuck with him until the end.

Or what about Glee? Many viewers watched Kurt, an openly gay teen, get bullied and harassed throughout his time at McKinley High School. The sympathy and attachment some people have to Kurt result in a broader acceptance of the LGBTQ community.

These connections to Will and Kurt helped diminish racism, intolerance, and misunderstandings. Therefore, elements of sitcoms can have a positive impact on their viewers.

But racial representations, or the lack there of, in sitcoms is problematic. Because sitcoms guide our idea of normalcy, the historical lack of minority characters in sitcoms is harmful. Our image of a normal family is two straight, white parents who find themselves and their children in the upper-middle class. Marginalized populations appear occasionally, and they rarely encounter problems of racism, poverty, or violence. These issues, and these characters, don’t have a place in the perfect, happy-family lifestyle of sitcoms.

It’s crucial that we as viewers take sitcoms with a grain of salt. Even though sometimes we feel an attachment to characters in these types of shows, it’s crucial that we examine broader representations of various cultural and ethnic groups. This portrayal of everyday life seems normal, but it’s far from realistic.