In this weeks class, we discussed many of the stereotypes in the media.  One stereotype i found to be interesting was the asian-american characterization of them as being sneaky and underhanded.  Sometimes i feel like stereotypes are based off of quirks and specific traits that a ethnicity might have, but at other times, stereotypes just feel so forced.  It feels as if the stereotype isn't a way to help us identify with other cultures and races, but is more of a direct insult that can be applied to any individual.  This makes the stereotype even more deadly, because it is one for personal assessment that is applied to a whole group of people.  It then becomes something that cannot be shed.  I understand that there is a need of stereotyping to some extent, but can we at least let the stereotypes be tailored to the culture and ideology of a ethnicity, and not some shallow feeling of insecurity that one may get from another race.

The stereotypes that are presented in today's media have been developed over a long period of time, in which stereotypes have been crafted and adopted by the masses, in order to make characters more identifiable. The problem with stereotypes in mass media, is that most often, the stereotypes are not of admirable qualities, but of lacking ability and consciousness. This especially so for minority groups, and represents them in a negative light, often ratifying the common misleading judgement of them. For example, in early tv, the stereotype of the "mammie" was projected up black mothers. This characterized them as fat, subservient, and respectful to a point of shameful flattery. This can be seen implicitly in movies today, such as big mama's house, and the character Madea, in many of the Tyler Perry films. These roles in media today project less of the explicit parts of stereotyping from the 50's and 60's, but still imply the connotations that have risen from the past perceptions of minorities. This process can bring about misread cues on how to assess other cultures and races, and leaves room for racism and prejudice to creep into society unnoticed to the untrained mind.