Trans TV looks into the transformation of television as a collective, in aspects of the distribution, consumerism and as stated “aesthetic transformations both of televisual programmes and the televisual experiences of audiences.” Goddard, M. N., & Hogg, C. (2018)

I’d like to focus on specifically how Netflix has allowed for the expansion of not just the broadcasting of shows into a much bigger international consumer base but how this has led to an increased form of representation in shows for people of color, queerness, minority culture, disabilities and more. Shows such as “Orange is the New Black” broke off the white male oriented POV common in shows and allowed for a more diverse view and cast. The trend of diversity rose, but along with those issues unique to it.

For example, “Music” directed by Sia starred Maddie Ziegler, an able-bodied actress and dancer who play an autistic character. The film and character, supposedly a form of appreciation for caretakers and people on the spectrum, was portrayed in an off-putting manner. Kurchak being autistic herself, & firm believer and advocate for autistic rights and representation, writes “I believed that Music, which was released in Australia in January and in the U.S. earlier this month, had the potential to be patronizing, exploitive and genuinely harmful.” (2021).

Diversity had become a form of money grab. Characters were being casted as people of color, etc. and yet this had no part in their story. Whilst characters in shows were being diversified, many aspects of production lacked this aspect.

Kim’s convenience was a CBC tv show, revolving a Korean family running a convenience store. Despite being popular, having had run for 5 seasons, the show ended abruptly as the creators of the show left. Following this, members of the cast expressed how they were not happy with the ending along with experiences on set. “In his Facebook post, Liu said the show had an “overwhelmingly white” team of producers who shut out creative input from the largely Asian Canadian cast.” Ahearn quotes Simu Liu (2021).

Reading List

Ahearn, V. (2021) Simu Liu talks Kim’s convenience demise at Banff World Media Festival | CBC news, CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada. Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/simu-liu-kims-convenience-banff-world-media-festival-1.6069054 (Accessed: November 10, 2022). 

Kurchak, S. (2021) Sia’s music disability debate goes beyond representation, Time. Time. Available at: https://time.com/5942094/sia-music-disability-representation/ (Accessed: November 10, 2022). 

Aseel Mohamed Waheed Deen

10/11/22