Deconstruction of stereotypical images and mediated messages in African-American sitcoms

• Main Author: Wilburn, Shenetha L.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 2002
• Subjects: African American Studies; Women's Studies
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/657; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2193&context=dissertations

This study examines the images of African Americans in black-themed sitcoms and mediated messages presented here. The study was based on the premise that the images of African Americans on television sitcoms are one dimensional and comedic. A content analysis approach was used to analyze various television sitcoms. Definitions were used to determine what type of image existed using the foundation provided by Donald Bogle and Stewart Hall. The researcher found that although many of the African-American-themed sitcoms investigated represented traditional stereotypical images, there were mediated messages in these sitcoms, which offered a new and different perspective on African Americans. This suggests that African-American images on black-themed sitcoms are moving forward. Additionally, the researcher found that sitcoms depicting African-American life from a comedic point-of-view seem to be more acceptable in popular culture than those which depict life from a dramatic and/or realistic point-of-view.