blog 4

Stereotypes play an important role in today’s society and particularly in propaganda. If we turn on the television, most shows or commercial is full of racial stereotypes. TV shows such as the Simpsons is a good example. It is packed with stereotypes within its broadcast of only half an hour. Since this shows been broadcasting for years, it contains a large number of audience that watch the show daily as it is being show during prime time. Characters such as Apu is discriminated and stereotyped in this show. He is characterized as an Indian immigrant, who prays to Ganesh and have a highly noticeable accent. This is a stereotype which is observed by young children and is perceived as being humorous. Having such stereotypes effect in a children’s show, sooner or later they started applying this knowledge of what they see in TV towards those they meet in real life. Viewers of this show believe this information is to be completely accurate. Due to the power of the media and what ever is shown on television, we quickly absorbed what we see and use it in real life. Also, in today’s society, most of the songs we listen to are very stereotypes. For example, the song Stupid Girls by PINK is filled with stereotypes lyrics. “Stupid girl, stupid girls, stupid girls, maybe if I act like this, the guy will call me back. The more popular the song is, the more impact it will have on the listener. For a popular song like Stupid Girls, it is teaching girl to be stupid so they can get guys. If we were to think logically, this will make no sense. By being perceived by it and listening to it over and over again in radio, internet, or even in stores, the effect will hit us sooner or later making us believe that stupid girls do get guys in the end. Songs and commercials with African American people in it are very stereotypes. When a lot of rapper said they are from the “hoods” or that their videos portray so people get it in their head that every African American person sold drugs or something. Rap music is mostly portrayed on the black culture. When people hear their songs, they expect black people to have the same issues that the rapper rap about. The music video Candy Shop by 50cents shows how they portray women as inferior to men. “Take me to the candy shop, ima let you lick my lollipops” is one of the lyrics from the show and it clearly shows how they treat the women. The video is consists of 50cents himself and hot and beautiful women everyone. Having the only male in it and singing that particular lyrics, it makes us, the people who see or listen to his music video will now think that women are inferior to guy and how they will get a treat if they does what they are told by men. With so many racial stereotypes out there, we absorbed the knowledge from it and been using it in our daily life already and that’s why our society today is so corrupted by simple humorous acts in commercials.