Alexis Nguyen / Staff reporter
Now that the Canadian television show Kim’s Convenience has come to an end, it raises questions about representation in media. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) get less representation in media, even though the population of BIPOC is rising.
Kim’s Convenience was the only Canadian show that had a primarily Asian cast. They were also able to tell the story of not only a Korean family and their culture, but also have content that is family friendly that anyone will be able to relate to.
Unfortunately now that the show is cancelled, it doesn’t provide a lot of opportunities to see diverse characters on television screens.
Having representation of BIPOC is important because there has been ignorance and a lack of acceptance towards diversity in the media. This means there hasn’t been enough exposure to diversity in media, possibly leaning to discrimination and misinformation spread about certain cultures.
Media does not only include films and television shows, but also news and journalism. A study conducted in Ontario found that news wasn’t being covered as often in areas where more people of colour are located.
Since news is less likely to be covered in those areas, it is harder connect with general public through stories. Also, those who have things to say about the situation at hand won’t be able to share their point of view.
Seeing more racial diversity on television screens has an influence on younger generations, as it allows them to recognize and make connections with what is being shown. This can make youth feel more inspired knowing there’s someone like them on the screen and feeling like they have a place where they are represented.
While media has been getting better at representation, there are still some occurrences where certain ethnic groups are misrepresented. These types of things can happen at any moment, from stereotypes to miscasting characters for a movie.
This would normally happen if the people in charge are uneducated or unsure of what to do. The simple solution is to ask others who have had experiences in those areas, in this case it’s those who are BIPOC.
Although the amount of representation should still be higher, the amount of racial diversity in media is making progress. The number of shows and movies with BIPOC characters has gone up in recent years and should keep going up as long as people of colour get the attention they deserve.
The media should be an informative and inclusive place, where everyone feels more at home and their voices are heard, and that’s how representation within media will get better in years to come.
Sources:
How Kim’s convenience showcases the difficulties faced by diverse characters
Why CBC’s Kim’s Convenience is particularly important for Vancouver at this point in time
‘A landmark show’: Asian-Canadians reflect on the legacy of Kim’s Convenience
Breaking News: Canadian Media Fails to Represent – A Multimedia Recap
Why on-screen representation matters, according to these teens
Canadian media lacks nuance, depth on racial issues
Pictures:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/mediaindex
http://cinemavine.com/black-panther-trailer-and-screencaps/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/arts/television/insecure-season-1-episode-7-recap.html
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/27/never-have-i-ever-netflix-mindy-kaling
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/kims-convenience
https://goldengatexpress.org/78743/latest/opinion/diversity-in-media-matters/