Core Post, Week 8

One of the terms that stood out to me in the Esposito article is “Hollywood as ethnographer.” Contrasting the term Ugly Betty proves the cultural link between television and the viewer; the apparent interaction with brown bodies on screen, representation of immigrants, illegal or otherwise. I think this is a good lens to view a show like Fresh Off the Boat and the inherent issues that surround its exposition. While there’s now an Asian American narrative on network television, the comedic slant used in the show not only stereotypes Asian American culture but links racial difference with sloppy comedy. This connects to Esposito’s mention of comedy’s use of stereotypes via Stephen Neale and Frank Krutnik, “It is hardly surprising that comedy often perpetuates prejudice, or draws uncritically on racist and sexist stereotypes, since they provide a ready-made set of images of deviation from social and cultural norms.” As one of the few depictions of a Chinese American family on television, Fresh Off the Boat does act as a sort of ethnography for viewers; it offers a glimpse into the dynamics of first generation Americans and their subsequent assimilation into the culture. Similar to sitcoms that we’ve seen like Life with Luigi, Mama, or The Goldbergs, the show uses the characters’ ethnic backgrounds as a narrative springboard for episodic themes. Although the show is far from the approach done by The Cosby Show, the discursive construction of characters like Jessica are ultimately superficial, reinforcing stereotypical characterization in the guise of comedy.

Coupling Acham and Esposito’s arguments highlights some of the narrative tropes seen in popular network shows like Grey’s Anatomy. Season one of the show featured several ethnic, minority characters and like The Cosby Show, particularly African American professionals. However, race was rarely discussed despite the overt diverse casting that centered around a majority white cast. What’s interesting is the primetime attention that seems to be paid to shows with racial structures that adhere to “positive” images of African Americans. With “Shondaland” now consisting of three shows on Thursday nights, it’d be interesting to explore the dynamics of race that now encompasses network television.