Orange Is The New Black Identity

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors in which minority characters are portrayed in the media. By discussing the key themes that pertains to the Netflix show Orange is The New Black, this paper will analyze the topic of identity and allowing for its application on a larger context that houses within the Structuralism perspective. Identity is an umbrella term to classify the broad categories of race, gender, religion, sexuality, and family/subcultural groups – all of these things can define what one views the identity of oneself or of another. Structuralism is the foundational base for the surface phenomenon to exist or operate, or strongly conditions in some way (Febiri 8), it is the idea that a linear structure exists to support …show more content…
The Netflix exclusive show, Orange Is the New Black - a prime example of breaking out of the normative view of media encoders and decoders. The ethnic backgrounds of each individual characters are seen as a hyper-influential factor in the show, and are mainly consisting of Latino, African American descent except for the main lead Piper Chapman and a few other characters. The depiction of scenarios in the standardized minimum security prison setting, in which the female characters form their own relationships based on their values and behaviour within the enclosed space. The show exploits these female characters for their mistakes, but reveal that they possess deep human …show more content…
Being said, many of the key themes in the show are “taboo” and drives away from the norms of television media. The orange colored uniform acts as a symbol (signifier that is constant) representing the inmates who engages in delinquent behaviour (signified that is subjective). This is a representation of the appearance in criminal stereotypes.…(ie. People who smoke weed are bad, dreads are worn by dirty people). Due to way the media production is introducing the controversial nature of the show with its medium of Web 2.0, not on traditional cable television, it appeals to the audience and also pans out to a larger structure with Klapper’s Reinforcement Theory. With regards to the proliferation of Netflix, Hulu and other web based broadcasting platforms which are used as an alternative medium of cable television; it is an example of the shifting technological determinism. Now, given the freedom of choice, the audience is able to explicitly voice an opinion on various issues; the audience is active. Tuning into the specifics, the audience may seek to enhance the actions and words that are seen from the media’s portrayal of language and values in women of minority groups. They will not fully decode and grasp the context of the show if they are not well educated on current worldly issues or are of the same racial background and