Representation of Race and Ethnicity

I would say that the representation of race in T.V dramas is fairly low. While there are many side characters that belong to ethnic minority groups, such as Ibrahim from Hotel Babylon and Xaro Xhoan Daxos From Game Of Thrones and some of these characters such as Xaro have a quite large role in the show, characters like Ibrahim have little to no screen time and bear no significance to the script.

However, there are some leading characters which belong to ethnic minority groups, Such as DCI John Luther from "Luther" and Will Smith from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".

Race - The concept of dividing people into populations or groups based upon groups of physical traits.

Ethnicity -  An ethnic group is a population or group whose members identify with each other based upon nationality or shared culture.

Alvarado's race theory - 1978

Four key themes in racial representation

-Exotic 

-Dangerous 

-Humorous

-Pitied

Cohen

Moral Panic -Described as a condition, episode, person or group of persons which emerge to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests. A recent example would be the media's representation of Asylum seekers.

Black Racial Stereotypes

• Musicians - particularly Jazz, Hip-Hop and Soul musicians
• Athletes
• Comedians
• Criminals
• Socially Dysfunctional
• Prostitute/sexually promiscuous
• The stud/ pimp