yellowdaisy 4, Hooks

Hooks discusses “the other” as the less dominant group in society. Otherness can be seen as taboo or exotic because it is different than the mainstream group in society. Hooks talks about people of different races being the other and how they are portrayed in the media. Whether, if it seems that they are being portrayed positively, like in Hairspray, or in a negative light, like in war movies or videogames, otherness is always being accentuated. Hooks quote that explains “within current debates about race and difference, mass culture is the contemporary location that both publicly declares and perpetuates the idea that there is pleasure to be found in the acknowledgement and enjoyment of racial difference” , sums up how our media is always drawing attention to otherness instead of the fact that we are all the same. One way they do this is by playing on stereotypes or mocking differences in films or TV shows. The other is also usually always recognized for being the different one and usually that is worked into their character and what they have to overcome. The media plays up on otherness instead of sameness or equal-ness because it gets more attention. The united colors of Benetton ads are interesting because they are going against racism by actually getting people’s attention by playing up on people’s reactions of their ads which are of all people of different races almost merging their skin together as one. The advertisements show we are aware of how the media portrays the other but still surprised.