Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07

A study on television portrayal in the UK argues that broadcasters view
cultural diversity as representing terrorism, violence, conflict and
carnival (Campion 2005). A study by BFI about reactions of minority
ethnic audiences to film showed that African Caribbeans were
extremely concerned about Tarzan films up to the present day, which
they described as demeaning and offensive. In a 2000 study, film
professionals from minority ethnic groups felt that films and television
programmes did not reflect UK society as it was. They criticised East
Enders, Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Four Weddings and a Funeral
(1994) in this light. Generally these film professionals argued that
portrayal either missed out minority ethnic characters, or they were
under-represented, misrepresented or cast in stereotypical roles.
Adrian Lester was quoted as saying he had learned “To turn down
lucrative work in TV series such as The Bill because they always
wanted him to play the mugger” (The Guardian/G2 Arts Theatre 24
May 2000).
Robson (2002) classifies films which have examined racial issues in
three ways:
• The confident imperialist/funny foreigners. This has examples
such as Sanders of the River (1935) where a district officer
restores ”peace amongst child-like natives” and Song of
Freedom (1936) where African tribal life is seen as superstitious
and ignorant. The period of the 1940s to 1970s is full of
C:\Documents and Settings\mcorless\Desktop\Intranet\Barriers to Diversity in Film_DS_RB 20 Aug
07.doc
130