Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas

Television dramas are vital platforms that reflect societal norms, values, and power dynamics. This study investigates how social backgrounds—such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status—affect interpersonal communication in contemporary TV dramas. The primary goal is to analyze how th...

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Main Authors: Dai, Haocheng, Kasimon, Diyana Nawar, Ang, Lay Hoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Review of Communication Research 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/1/116816.pdf
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author Dai, Haocheng
Kasimon, Diyana Nawar
Ang, Lay Hoon
author_facet Dai, Haocheng
Kasimon, Diyana Nawar
Ang, Lay Hoon
author_sort Dai, Haocheng
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Television dramas are vital platforms that reflect societal norms, values, and power dynamics. This study investigates how social backgrounds—such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status—affect interpersonal communication in contemporary TV dramas. The primary goal is to analyze how these social identities shape communication patterns and behaviors among characters, revealing underlying power dynamics, stereotypes, and inequalities embedded within television content. By examining the intersectionality of social identities in media narratives, this study aims to deepen the understanding of how media representations impact audience perceptions and societal attitudes. This research includes a comprehensive literature review to explore existing studies on social background representation and communication dynamics in media. Additionally, selected TV dramas were analyzed using content and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in character interactions and communication styles. The findings indicate that social backgrounds significantly influence communication and relationship dynamics in television stories, mirroring broader societal norms and reinforcing stereotypes and disparities. This research underscores the importance of promoting diverse, authentic, and inclusive portrayals in media. It also highlights the need for critical media literacy and audience engagement initiatives to challenge stereotypes and advocate for positive social change, ultimately contributing to a more equitable media landscape.
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spelling upm-1168162025-05-05T07:15:17Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/ Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas Dai, Haocheng Kasimon, Diyana Nawar Ang, Lay Hoon Television dramas are vital platforms that reflect societal norms, values, and power dynamics. This study investigates how social backgrounds—such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status—affect interpersonal communication in contemporary TV dramas. The primary goal is to analyze how these social identities shape communication patterns and behaviors among characters, revealing underlying power dynamics, stereotypes, and inequalities embedded within television content. By examining the intersectionality of social identities in media narratives, this study aims to deepen the understanding of how media representations impact audience perceptions and societal attitudes. This research includes a comprehensive literature review to explore existing studies on social background representation and communication dynamics in media. Additionally, selected TV dramas were analyzed using content and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in character interactions and communication styles. The findings indicate that social backgrounds significantly influence communication and relationship dynamics in television stories, mirroring broader societal norms and reinforcing stereotypes and disparities. This research underscores the importance of promoting diverse, authentic, and inclusive portrayals in media. It also highlights the need for critical media literacy and audience engagement initiatives to challenge stereotypes and advocate for positive social change, ultimately contributing to a more equitable media landscape. Review of Communication Research 2024-09-03 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/1/116816.pdf Dai, Haocheng and Kasimon, Diyana Nawar and Ang, Lay Hoon (2024) Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas. Review of Communication Research, 12. pp. 1-17. ISSN 2255-4165 https://rcommunicationr.org/index.php/rcr/article/view/64 10.52152/rcr.v12.1
spellingShingle Dai, Haocheng
Kasimon, Diyana Nawar
Ang, Lay Hoon
Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title_full Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title_fullStr Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title_full_unstemmed Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title_short Reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
title_sort reflecting epochs: a review of social background’s influence on interpersonal communication in contemporary television dramas
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116816/1/116816.pdf