This illegitimate criticism took away from the diversity and brilliance of Lin Manuel Miranda’s creation. In 2016, some of the only criticism levied against the otherwise universally acclaimed musical Hamilton centered around its casting of people of color for all of its roles. To top it all off, increasing representation is beneficial not only for consumers, but also for those who produce media an analysis by the McKinsey consulting firm found in 2021 that by breaking down barriers to equity in content creation, creators could “unlock” an additional $10,000,000,000 in currently untapped revenue.ĭespite this myriad of benefits, resistance to representation has persisted in society and industry. Plus, there can simply be increased enjoyment in entertainment for people from all backgrounds when they are represented. According to Psychology Today, seeing oneself represented in media can “foster a great sense of affirmation” and “boost positive feelings of self-worth.” In a world where minority group members frequently face discrimination and other challenges, these mental benefits are critical. When people feel “seen” in media, there are various benefits.
However, the creation of equitable representation still has a ways to go, and it’s important for us all to understand why this job must be finished. Over the years, the representation of minority groups in entertainment and media has risen.
And that scenario lays out why it’s so important.
When you sit down to watch the latest hit movie or your next great Netflix binge, do you see someone on the screen who looks like you? For most straight, white, cisgender Americans, the answer is most often “yes.” But for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and other minority groups in the United States, the answer is all too often “no.” So, why does that topic matter? To find out, we’re calling back to the 4th edition of Eastside’s “Liberty and Justice for All,” in which columnist Aiden Rood shared their perspective on the importance of diverse representation in all different forms of media.
This package is all about representation in the media.