100642357 - Tharsika Logeswaran - Stereotyping by Omission and Decentering - Case Study Assignment

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Anthropology

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Jan 9, 2024

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STEREOTYPING BY OMISSION AND DECENTERING 1 Stereotyping by Omission and Decentering Tharsika Logeswaran Durham College GNED 1475: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Representation in Media and Popular Culture Robert Horton October 19, 2023

STEREOTYPING BY OMISSION AND DECENTERING 2 Stereotyping by Omission and Decentering Indigenous peoples have long been portrayed in popular culture through stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions that do not reflect the diversity and complexity of their cultures, history, and identities (Major, 2022). This assignment investigates the dilemma of stereotyping by omission and decentering in popular media, concentrating on the absence of stories about Indigenous people before European settlers arrived and their current lifestyles. The paper will identify essential parts of this difficulty, explain its historical antecedents, and examine why it is personally and professionally significant and how it contributes to Canada's ongoing Reconciliation effort. Key Elements of Stereotyping by Omission and Decentering Absence of Indigenous Pre-Colonial History: The historical narratives and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities before the arrival of Europeans are frequently disregarded in mainstream media. The exclusion of this information perpetuates the detrimental generalization that the occurrence of colonization solely defines Indigenous populations (O’Faircheallaigh, 2023). The media's failure to acknowledge the extensive pre-colonial histories of Indigenous groups contributes to the perpetuation of a misleading portrayal, which obscures their profound cultural traditions and socioeconomic systems that predate European arrival. Lack of Contemporary Representation: The mainstream media frequently fails to depict Indigenous peoples' contemporary lives and experiences. The exclusion of this information results in an imbalanced and insufficient representation of Indigenous groups, hence neglecting their continuous contributions, difficulties, and achievements in contemporary society (Berube, 2023). The perpetuation of a lack of present-day portrayal sustains a sense that Indigenous

STEREOTYPING BY OMISSION AND DECENTERING 3 communities are stagnant in time, disregarding their capacity to adapt and endure the ever- evolving nature of their cultures in the present era. Erasure of Cultural Diversity: These cultures exhibit remarkable diversity, as evidenced by various customs, dialects, and worldviews within each nation. Nevertheless, it is frequently observed that mainstream media tends to oversimplify and generalize Indigenous communities, resulting in the marginalization and loss of their multifaceted cultural heritage (Major, 2022). The media's failure to recognize these distinctions adds to an erroneous portrayal of Indigenous communities as homogenous, perpetuating the assumption that they share a consistent identity. Underrepresentation of Indigenous Achievements: This is a prevalent issue within mainstream media since it frequently fails to recognize the noteworthy accomplishments of Indigenous persons and communities. The lack of adequate representation leads to a restricted comprehension of the contributions made by Indigenous peoples in several domains, including art, science, politics, and sports (Nash, 2019). The aforementioned perspective perpetuates a detrimental narrative that downplays the significant contributions made by Indigenous communities to Canadian society, disregarding the numerous noteworthy accomplishments they have attained despite enduring historical challenges. Historical Causes of Stereotyping by Omission and Decentering The current dilemma of stereotyping by omission and decentering in popular media is firmly entrenched in the historical backdrop of colonization and the lingering effects of settler colonialism in Canada. The foundation for this issue was created by European settlers' Eurocentric worldview and their conviction in cultural and technological superiority (Berube, 2023). Understanding the historical foundations of this problem sheds light on the persistence of misrepresentations of Indigenous peoples in mainstream media.

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