Media Reflection #4: Representation Responsibilities

For this post, please consider and reflect on your responsibilities as a filmmaker when it comes to the groups of people represented in your film. Do you feel you have a responsibility to represent groups of people "correctly" when creating media products? Do you feel that other filmmakers have represented groups of people in their films well in the past? Please provide examples of what you think has been positive representation and negative representation in some films that you have seen. Then add any other discussion or thoughts you would like to your reflection. 

As a filmmaker, it is arguable that there is a responsibility to represent groups of people "correctly" when creating media products, such as not making them look stupid, as an idiot, or to represent individuals in an undignified and negative manner (such as being outright sexist, racist, or portraying certain groups with stereotypes that would be offensive) that would be seen as harassment and looking down on others. In terms of "correctness", it comes as a moral and ethical responsibility in the sense that individuals should be treated fairly, respectfully, and not as mere means to an end (such as deliberately exploiting a person/group to represent them negatively), but as the ends themselves in treating individuals and representing them respectfully (Kantian ethics). Arguably, deliberate negative representation of individuals as a filmmaker could harm one's reputation and standing among others, which is not desirable. It is also arguable that in some scenarios as appropriate, a representation of a group of people pertaining to norms of the time period a film takes place in may be seen as unacceptable by today's standards but could still positive depending on how it portrays such group of individuals and how the story is told, underlying themes, and main intentions of a filmmaker.

I feel that representation of groups of people by filmmakers in the past were arguably not as well as they are today, being that attitudes have changed over time (such as racial and gender norms) compared to today's filmmakers who may be more socially cognizant of the realities people face, and not just represent a group of people arbitrarily and negatively to push some sort of narrative or image that may be false. While I do not watch many films or watch on a consistent and regular basis, my knowledge may be limited but an example of positive representation is arguably Top Gun: Maverick, where some of the characters as elite fighter pilots are chosen to not just be all men, but including some women along with racial minorities that could represent how the armed forces has become more diverse in accepting and producing capable servicemembers of all races. This would be positive representation in the sense that more modern gender and social norms may feel it is acceptable that women can serve and be pilots along with racial minorities as well. A negative representation of groups of people in film could arguably be found in James Bond films and their portrayal of women (especially older films; disclaimer: I have only seen the more modern ones but have seen video analyses of how women are portrayed). In some of the more modern films, it is evident how some female characters are treated as disposable objects (a recurring theme in the franchise) who would be killed off after interacting with Bond. Arguably, the negative representation could be interpreted as being insensitive and leading to criticism on underlying themes. These are some ways of what positive and negative representation could be interpreted as and my thoughts on responsibilities in representation.