Date of Award

12-29-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. John Caputo

Second Advisor

Dr. Josh Misner

Abstract

For years Black female characters were few and far between on television and were predominately created by men. When Black female characters were depicted, they were often maids, prostitutes, drug addicts, or the sidekick with very little storyline to a comedic spouse or friend. With the success of Black female screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, consumers have a broader selection of shows to view that feature complex Black female characters atypical of characters past. This study examines the impact ofthe narrative Black female television viewers see from Shonda Rhimes' characters through the lens of three theories: muted group, media literacy, and social learning theories. The muted group theory suggests an unequal playing field of communication for women in a male-dominated language. Media literacy and social learning theory examine how one responds to a message they receive, how they analyze and process the message, and how they behave in response to the message, respectively. This research uses several methodologies including content analysis and qualitative phenomenological research to explore the impact of Shonda Rhimes' characters. The results of the study indicate that when a Black woman is the creator, writer, or producer ofa show with Black female characters, Black female viewers are more inclined to see themselves reflected in those characters. The viewers, however, only feel represented to a certain degree -primarily professionally.

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