Symbolic reality bites 2: contemporary representations of women and people of color in top 100 films

Abstract

Symbolic annihilation refers to media representations that exclude, trivialize, or demonize a group. Initially used to describe the scarcity and stereotypical portrayals of women in mass media, this term has expanded to provide insight into media representations of other groups less valued within a culture based on age, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. Research on film and television has found evidence of symbolic annihilation of women, particularly older women and people of color. The purpose of this study is to add to this scholarship on media representations. A content analysis of the top 100 domestic grossing films of 2016 revealed that the symbolic annihilation of women and people of color continues to be evident in contemporary U.S. popular media.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank students in the January 2017 Social Research on Media Interim course for coding and Comfort Sampong and Ivanna Rodriquez for data cleaning.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Availability of data and material

Authors will share upon request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Deur Endowment Fund at Calvin University.

Notes on contributors

Elisha Marr

Elisha Marr is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Calvin University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin in 1997 and her PhD from Michigan State University in 2006. Although her most current research and publications focus on transracial adoption, Marr’s teaching and research interests extend more broadly to the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality in society. Marr seeks to add to the sociological understanding of how media and popular culture impact public opinion and shape behaviors and practices.

Laura B. Luchies

Laura Luchies is a founder and principal consultant of DataWise Consulting, a social-scientific data collection, management, and analysis consulting organization. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin in 2002 and her PhD from Northwestern University in 2011. Luchies’ academic research has focused on close relationships, especially interpersonal conflict and forgiveness. Recently transitioning from the Associate Director of the Center for Social Research at Calvin University to establishing her own organization, Luchies has 10 years of experience leading research and evaluation projects for businesses, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations.