Date of Defense

6-13-2016

Date of Graduation

4-2016

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Mark Orbe

Second Advisor

Mariam Konate

Abstract

This honors thesis investigates the use of stereotypes used to portray Black women on reality television.  Focusing on Bravo’s Blood Sweat and Heels, this project utilizes an Afrosemiotic framework, which is a combination of Afrocentricity and Semiotics.  Afrocentricity focuses on the agency and consciousness of Africans and African Americans.  Semiotics focuses on the study of signs and the explicit and implicit markers of these signs.  The first season’s narrative focuses on the positive lives of single, successful Black women but shifts to mainly negative portrayals inspired by Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise.  This project focuses on stereotypes associated with Black women and emphasizes how a reality show can both maintain and counter negative racial stereotypes.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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