The media do show cultural diversity in Europe, Gustave (and Ron) !
I feel I should counteract a possible misconception on European media and cultural behaviour:
Yes, we HAVE Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby and many more people on the media, that are definitely not "white caucasian". I watch and enjoy both shows regularly, sometimes in the original (english language) version, sometimes in what we call a "synchronized" version, it means german language is spoken to the pictures.
I can remember watching American shows on TV as long as I live, they make out the biggest part of the broadcast time in each station available. And I grew up on "Sesame street" which is also a multicultural show, remember?
But not only in the imported american programmes, also in german-produced shows we usually find Blacks, Coloured or Asian people. Also it is definitely not the case, that people of non-european ancestry or nationality were restricted to negative or marginal roles (as alibi characters). For example, one of most popular german talk shows is hosted by Arabella Kiesbauer, who must have some African or African American ancestor(s). It is so normal that the average German doesn't care to know about the nationality or ancestry of the Celeb. Even with the toughest scales I cannot find any ethnical group (of the world, it needn't even be present in numbers in Germany) that is "not allowed in" in german entertainment or news TV.
Of course I don't feel I can speak for all Europe, I know the feelings as well as maybe regulations can be different in other parts of this continent. But for (western) Germany, cultural and ethnical diversity is viewed as an enriching factor since at least 30 years (approx. my lifetime).
For my own contacts with US americans I often get the feeling that my home environment is MORE OPEN than the US to cultural diversity. Not only in the media, but also in everyday life. But this may differ in so many ways (regionally, socially, politically) in the US and Germany as well, that I only can give my own subjective feelings.
I don't want to boast, but these are the facts. |
