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VIRAL EXCLUSIVE
Dec. 26, 2023
Cultural Sensitivity in Dramas
The push for cultural portrayals in TV and entertainment is commendable. However, when the misappropriation and misconstruction of such portrayals are present, controversies and backlash ensue. By: Wee Yan Ling
Diverse cultural representations in the TV and entertainment industry signifies a huge leap and progression as the society embraces the idea of inclusivity and differences. However the journey of the exploitation of such premise is not without its downfalls. Problems ensues when cultural sensitivities are breached as filmmakers misconstrued or misappropriate their facts in films which amasses a major outrage.
Historical dramas are more susceptible to this issue as they are often found intertwined with controversies with stories of cultural insensitivities that have triggered audiences from all over the world. Such issues have called for action from governments and streaming platforms in order to rectify the issues.
Narco-Saints have brewed controversies due to its poor depiction of Suriname as a drug trafficking hotspot. This has prompted the Surinamese Foreign Affairs Minister to take action as he then threatened potential legal action against the producers. Netflix Korea had no intention to offend, however the controversy had shed light on the salient aspect of cultural sensitivity for content creators.
Another prime example is the rom-com series of JBTC, King the Land. The poor and wrongful representation of the Arabic culture and especially the character of Prince Samir has stirred outrage. The show had committed the sins of portraying offensive stereotypes and had made a poor choice in the casting of the non-Arabic actor.
Professor at Chungnam National University, Yun Seok-jin had underscored the topic of respect for countries and their citizens. He had raised the question of the need of using Suriname’s name as the Korean title and doubted the approach of the production house when dealing with nations with lower international stature.
It is monumental to remain factual and truthful in the portatyal of historical information and can be done through thorough in-depth research and consultations from professionals. This helps to navigate the waters of cultural nuances in order to eliminate any distortion and misconstrued ideas.
It is beneficial and educational to provide cultural sensitivity training as it helps to foster awareness and the understanding of diverse cultures which helps to form the bedrock of accurate and respectful portrayals on screens. It would drastically improve the situation if cross-cultural workshops are implemented as this allows for an open dialogue and collaboration of filmmakers in the industry of various cultural backgrounds, helping to build an inclusive and all-encompassing environment to be in and to film in.
Filmmakers must also bear in mind to be respectful and ensure that they do not misappropriate or distort cultural contexts. This includes the creation of sensitive storytelling choices, and being meticulous and aware of the repercussions of certain narrative decisions on the cultural representations in movies. This prevents harmful stereotypes and biases from perpetrating.
Filmmakers must also remain accountable and learn from their mistakes as this serves as a learning opportunity for room of improvement. In addition, this allows for ongoing reinforcement and ensures cultural sensitivity in future projects.
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