Cultural Representation in Media
Storytelling is a powerful means of communication, allowing the audience to experience profound shifts in their psyche - including the embodiment of empathy, making meaning of life lessons, and shaping their perspective of the world. When done well, storytelling can make a positive impact on an intellectual, emotional, spiritual level. The framing of a story heavily influences what the audience takes from their engagement with the piece. Each individual’s interpretation of the work will vary, making intentionality a key part of the creative process - especially when we’re telling the stories of those who are traditionally underrepresented in media.
This year, Saleem Et al. ran a meta-analysis review (one big research paper that looks for trends in a compilation of research) on the topic of representation in the media, reviewing themes and outcomes of 60 related studies with almost 25,000 participants. The study highlighted that the way underrepresented groups are portrayed in media plays a significant role in the audience’s perception of that group. Additionally, it is often the case that media offers audiences exposure to groups that they don’t have regular interaction with. Thus, those who are developing creative works have a duty to ensure that their artistic choices accurately represent the identities and cultures that they are incorporating into their piece.
Of course, when we’re having this conversation we not only want to understand the role that these artforms have on a societal level - we need to also explore the effect on those within the portrayed groups. What was it like for you the first time you saw your identity reflected on a movie screen? The same sentiment of prioritizing culturally accurate depictions of certain races, cultures, and identities applies in this context; the chosen storyline can either serve to empower or disempower people from the identity or culture. Knowing this, we can choose to include voices from folks who come from underrepresented groups in the creative journey, giving them more power over the narrative that is told about their lived experiences.
References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-the-people/202112/why-representation-matters-and-why-it-s-still-not-enough
Saleem, M. Hawkins, I., Rains, S.A., Mastro, D., & Coles, S. (2025). Media depictions of minority groups: A meta-analytic review examining the effects of positive and negative portrayals on outgroup evaluations. Media Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2025.2498374
