Subtle manifestations of prejudice : implicit visual constructions of black pathology / Linus kodwo Abraham.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Abraham, Linus kodwo.

Contributor:

Messaris, Paul, advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Communication.

Communication--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Communication.

Communication--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

ix, 429 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Production:

1998.

Summary:

The study examined the discursive reproduction of racism in discourse; more succinctly, it explored how prejudicial imagery about African-Americans manifest itself subtly through implicit visual constructions in news discourse. The project argued that implicit visual propositioning constitutes a significant contemporary discourse structure through which subtle stereotypes and negative images of blacks, with deep historic roots, are circulated and maintained in society. Implicit visual propositioning was defined as the use of visual images with implicit information (beyond those stated explicitly in the verbal text) in conjunction with the explicit verbal statements to make a comment, proposition, or suggest new meanings. Adopting a critical-interpretive approach, the study was designed to provide sampling and exemplification of the potential patterns of representations of African- Americans that are circulated through implicit visual propositioning in television news.

The study defined the mainstream media's representations of African-Americans as a form of inter-racial communication behavior, i.e., encoding and decoding practices influenced by the dynamics of inter-racial communication. The patterns of media encoding were broadly classified as potentially promoting racial antagonism and division (dissociative imagery) or promoting harmony and diversity (associative imagery). The study's findings show that implicit visual imagery of African-Americans tend to be dissociative---still taping into the vilifying dual myths of "Sambo"' and "Savage", which historically have been used to characterize African-Americans. The study suggests that implicit visual constructions provide an avenue for subtle reproduction of racial prejudice in an environment in which overt forms of racism have been proscribed or are socially frowned upon.

Notes:

Adviser: Paul Messaris.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Communication) -- University of Pennsylvania, 1998.

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 99-13421.

OCLC:

187477261