Representation in the media is powerful and necessary - here’s why…
Why does representation matter?
Representation is to see yourself on TV as the waitress or the leading lady, in a film as the love interest or the baddie, on the cover and in the pages of a magazine, on a billboard or the side of a bus… it is to see yourself, whatever that might look like, represented and celebrated. When certain characteristics are considered the “norm,” anything outside of this is viewed as unimportant or less than in some way, but society is multifaceted and should be reflected as such on our screens.
The media plays an important role in how we perceive the world, how it works and where we fit in it. Unfortunately, much of the media continues to under-represent women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people, people of different religious beliefs, disabled people, and a range of body shapes and types, but through better representation society can expand its knowledge of others and challenge ideas around what is ‘normal’.
2 year old Kenzo, who was very excited to observe the similarities between himself and Encanto’s Antonio.
Photo cred: @katchingupwithkenzo
An image circulated on social media earlier this year of a young boy named Kenzo Brooks, standing next to a TV paused on Antonio - a character from Disney’s ‘Encanto’. His smile perfectly captured the importance of representation. It means children, like him, can grow up seeing others who look like them represented in mainstream media. His mother captioned the Instagram post with #representationmatters and #thankyoudisney - furthering the message that the media should reflect modern society because in doing so it brings about joy, empowerment and a sense of belonging, and that does matter.
There is an industry shift in attitudes towards inclusivity and as such people of colour are securing lead roles, women are being cast in roles originally written for men, and LGBTQ+ people and disabled artistes are playing roles from within their community and outside of it. The success of films like ‘Black Panther’, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘Wonder Woman’, and ‘Hidden Figures’ shows the importance of diverse representation. More diverse scripts and roles create more diverse stories which, when told authentically, create new experiences and perspectives in our media.
Michelle Rodriguez told the LA Times she thinks increased diversity through the (Fast and Furious) franchise instalments is a huge reason the series continues to be successful, “There's a void in the market... When you have that kind of penetration but everybody who's leading your movie on the big screen is white, a lot of people don't feel included. Don't you think they're going to buy more tickets to those movies where they do feel included?”
The media has the power to influence and challenge our ideas and perceptions; seeing a range of people, cultures and lifestyles is crucial not only for those underrepresented groups but also for others to broaden their views and experiences of different types of people. At Olive, we believe inclusive casting has the power to change the world, when done well and from a place of authenticity.
If you’re looking for an inclusive casting agency in the North West, we want to hear from you!
