Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Document Type

Chapman access only poster or presentation

Publication Date

Spring 5-14-2015

Faculty Advisor(s)

Wenshan Jia

Abstract

Ever since the concept of the cultivation theory was introduced in the late 60s, researchers have looked at the correlation between the messages displayed on television and how those messages can effect a person’s mindset in real life situations. This body of literature suggests that the portrayal of African Americans, even more specifically African American women, on television, has had a negative effect on how people view the African American race in general. Although this has been proven in many different ways, there has been very little research done to find ways to counteract or improve the images of African American women on television in order to subsequently improve people’s perceived reality of the African American woman. Through an analysis of the characters Cookie Lyon from “Empire” (2015), Annalise Keating from “How to Get Away with Murder” (2014) and Olivia Pope from Scandal (2012), this qualitative case study examines the blogosphere in order to update the current body of literature and add to it by proposing counterstereotypical examples as a way to improve the image of the African American woman on television and in life.

Comments

Presented at the Spring 2015 Student Research Day at Chapman University.

Access to this poster is restricted to Chapman University students, faculty, staff, and affiliates.

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