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An Audience Reception Analysis Field Study: Exploring Second and Later Generation Latino Viewers’ Perceived Realism Appraisals of Latino Fictional Television Characters in English Language Television Programs

Butcher, Erica
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1249586967

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Mass Communication (Communication).
This qualitative audience reception analysis explored the cultural believability of fictional portrayals of Latinos in English-language television programs. The informants for this study were predominately second and third generation Mexican Americans, living in the Los Angeles, California area. This research focused on the ways these Latino viewers experienced, interacted with, and assigned meaning to Latino television characterizations. Because these activities do not occur in isolation particular attention was given to the social construction and negotiation of meanings. Reception typically occurs and is discussed in informal settings, so the researcher employed the naturalistic methods of guided conversations and participant observation. During the field study, viewers discussed whether they could imagine a real-life person having similar characteristics to fictional characters on television. Moreover, they communicated the social significance of programs including fictional characters that reflect Latino persons’ cultural realities in more inclusive and diverse, yet entertaining ways. Viewers wanted to see more second and later generation Latino characters in scenes where they would have an obvious presence in similar real-world settings. The main finding of this research indicated that the viewers in this field study not only paid close attention to cultural details in characterizations and their believability, they were able to recall these details after a long period of time, indicating that these details were highly salient in their believability judgments. Most notably, viewers repeatedly conveyed the perception that too often productions emphasized cultural extremes or exaggerations that did not reflect the ways they experienced their Latino identities. They were particularly concerned by the frequent use of stereotypes, the use of exaggerated foreign accents, and the lack of attention to differences in heritage nationalities and heterogeneity of Latino populations. In addition to these critiques, this research detailed viewers’ perceptions of production and character development decisions, and included a discussion of believable identity cues productions might use to communicate characters’ Latino identities. Specifically, viewers suggested programs might incorporate Spanish in dialogues and believable cultural cues in characters’ environments as Americans of Mexican and Salvadorian ancestry.
Drew O. McDaniel, PhD (Committee Chair)
Newton Gregory, PhD (Committee Member)
Perla Jr. Héctor, PhD (Committee Member)
Jokisch Brad, PhD (Committee Member)
McKerrow Raymie, PhD (Committee Member)
225 p.
Communication; Hispanic Americans; Language; Mass Media; Minority and Ethnic Groups
Latino; Hispanic; reception; audience; cultural believability; perceived realism; television; film; representations; production; character development; stereotypes; naturalistic; participant observation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Butcher, E. (2009). An Audience Reception Analysis Field Study: Exploring Second and Later Generation Latino Viewers’ Perceived Realism Appraisals of Latino Fictional Television Characters in English Language Television Programs [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1249586967

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Butcher, Erica. An Audience Reception Analysis Field Study: Exploring Second and Later Generation Latino Viewers’ Perceived Realism Appraisals of Latino Fictional Television Characters in English Language Television Programs. 2009. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1249586967.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Butcher, Erica. "An Audience Reception Analysis Field Study: Exploring Second and Later Generation Latino Viewers’ Perceived Realism Appraisals of Latino Fictional Television Characters in English Language Television Programs." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1249586967

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.