The Colorblind Screen : Television in Post-Racial America

The election of President Barack Obama signaled for many the realization of a post-racial America, a nation in which racism was no longer a defining social, cultural, and political issue. While many Americans espouse a “colorblind” racial ideology and publicly endorse the broad goals of integration and equal treatment without regard to race, in actuality this attitude serves to reify and legitimize racism and protects racial privileges by denying and minimizing the effects of systematic and institutionalized racism. In __The Colorblind Screen__, the contributors examine television’s role as the major discursive medium in the articulation and contestation of racialized identities in the United States. While the dominant mode of televisual racialization has shifted to a “colorblind” ideology that foregrounds racial differences in order to celebrate multicultural assimilation, the volume investigates how this practice denies the significant social, economic, and political realities and inequalities that continue to define race relations today. Focusing on such iconic figures as President Obama, LeBron James, and Oprah Winfrey, many chapters examine the ways in which race is read by television audiences and fans. Other essays focus on how visual constructions of race in dramas like __24__, __Sleeper Cell__, and __The Wanted__ continue to conflate Arab and Muslim identities in post-9/11 television. The volume offers an important intervention in the study of the televisual representation of race, engaging with multiple aspects of the mythologies developing around notions of a “post-racial” America and the duplicitous discursive rationale offered by the ideology of colorblindness. In The Colorblind Screen, The Contributors Examine Television's Role As The Major Discursive Medium In The Articulation And Contestation Of Racialized Identities In The United States. While The Dominant Mode Of Televisual Racialization Has Shifted To A Colorblind Ideology That Foregrounds Racial Differences In Order To Celebrate Multicultural Assimilation, The Volume Investigates How This Practice Denies The Significant Social, Economic, And Political Realities And Inequalities That Continue To Define Race Relations Today. Focusing On Such Iconic Figures As President Obama, Lebron James, And Oprah Winfrey, Many Chapters Examine The Ways In Which Race Is Read By Television Audiences And Fans. Other Essays Focus On How Visual Constructions Of Race In Dramas Like 24, Sleeper Cell, And The Wanted Continue To Conflate Arab And Muslim Identities In Post-9/11 Television. The Volume Offers An Important Intervention In The Study Of The Televisual Representation Of Race, Engaging With Multiple Aspects Of The Mythologies Developing Around Notions Of A Post-racial America And The Duplicitous Discursive Rationale Offered By The Ideology Of Colorblindness. -- Publisher's Website. Theories Of Colorblindness -- Shades Of Colorblindness: Rethinking Racial Ideology In The United States / Ashley Doane -- Rhyme And Reason: Post-race And The Politics Of Colorblind Racism / Roopali Mukherjee -- The End Of Racism? Colorblind Racism And Popular Media / Eduardo Bonilla-silva And Austin Ashe -- Icons Of Post-racial America. Oprah Winfrey: Cultural Icon Of Mainstream (white) America / Janice Peck -- The Race Denial Card: The Nba Lockout, Lebron James, And The Politics Of New Racism / David J. Leonard And Bruce Lee Hazelwood -- Representations Of Arabs And Muslims In Post-9/11 Television Dramas / Evelyn Alsultany -- Maybe Brown People Aren't So Scary If They're Funny: Audience Readings Of Arabs And Muslims On Cable Television Comedies / Dina Ibrahim -- Reinscribing Whiteness. Some People Just Hide In Plain Sight? Historicizing Racism In Mad Men / Sarah Nilsen -- Watching Tv With White Supremacists: A More Complex View Of The Colorblind Screen / Richard King -- Bbffs: Interracial Friendships In A Post-racial World / Sarah E. Turner -- Post-racial Relationships. Matchmakers And Cultural Compatibility: Arranged Marriage, South Asians, And Racial Narratives On American Television / Shilpa Dav -- Mainstreaming Latina Identity: Culture-blind And Colorblind Themes In Viewer Interpretations Of Ugly Betty / Philip A. Kretsedemas -- Race In Progress, No Passing Zone: Battlestar Galactica, Colorblindness, And The Maintenance Of Racial Order / Jinny Huh. Edited By Sarah Nilsen And Sarah E. Turner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The election of President Barack Obama signaled for many the realization of a "post-racial" America, a nation in which racism was no longer a defining social, cultural, and political issue. While many Americans espouse a "colorblind" racial ideology and publicly endorse the broad goals of integration and equal treatment without regard to race, The Colorblind Screen complicates the notion of colorblindness in this "post-racial moment" by configuring it in relation to multiple identity positions-race, ethnicity, class, and gender. The volume's contributors examine television's role as the major discursive medium in the articulation and contestation of racialized identities in the United States. While the dominant mode of televisual racialization has shifted to a "colorblind" ideology that foregrounds racial differences in order to celebrate multicultural assimilation, the volume investigates how this practice denies the significant social, economic, and political realities and inequalities that continue to define race relations today. Focusing on such iconic figures as President Obama, LeBron James, and Oprah Winfrey and shows such as Battlestar Galactica, Mad Men, and Ugly Betty, many chapters examine the ways in which race is read by television audiences and fans. Other essays focus on how visual constructions of race in dramas like 24, Sleeper Cell, and The Wanted continue to conflate Arab and Muslim identities in post-9/11 television. The volume offers an important intervention in the study of the televisual representation of race, engaging with multiple aspects of the mythologies developing around notions of a "post-racial" America and the discursive rationale offered by the ideology of colorblindness. Book jacket The Election Of President Barack Obama Signaled For Many The Realization Of A Post-racial America, A Nation In Which Racism Was No Longer A Defining Social, Cultural, And Political Issue. While Many Americans Espouse A Colorblind Racial Ideology And Publicly Endorse The Broad Goals Of Integration And Equal Treatment Without Regard To Race, In Actuality This Attitude Serves To Reify And Legitimize Racism And Protects Racial Privileges By Denying And Minimizing The Effects Of Systematic And Institutionalized Racism. Ina The Colorblind Screen, The Contributors Examine Televisionocos Role As The Major Discursive Medium In The Articulation And Contestation Of Racialized Identities In The United States. While The Dominant Mode Of Televisual Racialization Has Shifted To A Colorblind Ideology That Foregrounds Racial Differences In Order To Celebrate Multicultural Assimilation, The Volume Investigates How This Practice Denies The Significant Social, Economic, And Political Realities And Inequalities That Continue To Define Race Relations Today. Focusing On Such Iconic Figures As President Obama, Lebron James, And Oprah Winfrey, Many Chapters Examine The Ways In Which Race Is Read By Television Audiences And Fans. Other Essays Focus On How Visual Constructions Of Race In Dramas Likea 24, A Sleeper Cell, Anda The Wanted Acontinue To Conflate Arab And Muslim Identities In Post-9/11 Television. The Volume Offers An Important Intervention In The Study Of The Televisual Representation Of Race, Engaging With Multiple Aspects Of The Mythologies Developing Around Notions Of A Post-racial America And The Duplicitous Discursive Rationale Offered By The Ideology Of Colorblindness. The election of President Barack Obama signaled for many the realization of a post-racial America, a nation in which racism was no longer a defining social, cultural, and political issue. This title helps you examine television's role as the major discursive medium in the articulation and contestation of racialized identities in the United States.