Stereotyping In Irish Cinema

777 Words4 Pages
Question on Irish Stereotyping in Cinema Basics of Stereotyping Groups are represented throughout the media and cinema. These representations are constructed. We must ask ourselves are the characters from a group meant to represent that whole group and can individuals have all of the characteristics of the group? Political viewpoints influence the representation of people in texts.. Stereotypes aren’t people, just widely circulated ideas and assumptions. Characteristics of Stereotypes Stereotypes are: a categorisation of a group and an evaluation of that group. They are built upon easily grasped aspects of a group’s experience. They are negative in that they insist on absolute differences. They make broad assumptions about a group. Yet we all use stereotypes every day, just as they are used in cinema – they help us judge a person immediately. Stereotypes are the product of the dominant ideology and a hegemonic society and although now they are generally thought to be ignored and untrue, many of them have a historical basis. Propaganda & Stereotypes Stereotypes were used in propaganda in a much more overt and extreme manner to encourage fear and outright hatred. It was used in Nazi Germany against the Jews to demonise them and make them more identifiable, with creations like The Eternal Jew. Roots in Truth Many stereotypes have a historical basis, in which a small grain of truth is at the heart of horrible stereotypes. Some stereotypes are based on actual characteristics, sometimes they are caused by injustices done to the group previously, contributing further to the injustice. In the middle ages, due to a belief that moneylending was immoral, only Jews performed that service, which to this day leads to the belief that Jews are good with money. Example of “Negroes” in Media Students’ Handbook Many of the stereotypes about ‘Negroes’ come from a
Open Document