Abstract
Prime-time narrative is the most watched and influential genre of television. It creates a sense of belonging and contributes to identity formation. It also receives the largest amount of publicly mandated funding in the form of investment, subsidies, and tax incentives in Canada. Anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests that despite legislation requiring equitable representation in all aspects of screen media, and over thirty years of many “special initiatives” and training and mentorship programs, little progress has been made in the area of equitable representation in narrative programming. This dissertation investigates the representation of diasporic people of colour in the screen-media industry in Canada. In particular, it studies how “authentic voices” from these communities are finding expression in the area of prime-time television narrative programming (scripted comedy and drama) and feature films, which ultimately find their largest audiences in broadcast screen platforms on television and increasingly via the Internet. The focus is on the legislative frameworks pertaining to the reflection of “diasporic communities of colour” in the production of screen media, specifically for prime-time broadcast in narrative, or what is referred to in the industry as “scripted programming,” as well as on the current realities faced by creators of screen media from diasporic communities of colour in telling their stories in this arena. Through a case study of the television series Little Mosque on the Prairie, it examines the issues that affect the expression of “authentic voice” from individuals who have had the opportunity to work in the area of narrative screen media in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada’s public broadcaster, which has as one of its key priorities the reflection of the cultural diversity of Canada. The issues involved in the production of feature films by diasporic people of colour is examined through a case study of the film Heaven on Earth, written and directed by Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Mehta’s film presents a unique situation in which the filmmaker, due to the previous international success of her film Water, was able to access the financial resources to produce the film in Canada and maintain her “authentic voice” without mediation in the production from external players. Part of this case study includes a documentary film featuring an interview with Deepa Mehta conducted in 2017 about her film Heaven on Earth.
Highlights
I will argue that based on my research and interviews with key government policy makers and senior executives and administrators as well as a wide variety of creative workers in screen-based media from diasporic communities of colour, and through an examination of institutional practices in screen media industries and case studies of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) television series Little Mosque on the Prairie and the feature film Heaven on Earth, that by and large, legislative frameworks and programs aimed at increasing the “diversity of voices” in screen media have been marginally effective in achieving the results they were intended to achieve
According to observational analysis and information provided by a representative of the Canadian Media Guild, there are currently no members of visible minority groups at senior management positions at the CBC who are responsible for the commissioning of narrative television programs
This has important implications, with respect to the perspectives being represented in the decision making process, as well as aspects of equity, as outlined in legislation relating to the employment of members of visible minority groups
Summary
My dissertation is the coming together of two key themes in my personal and professional lifethat of storytelling and the quest for fairness and social justice. I will argue that based on my research and interviews with key government policy makers and senior executives and administrators as well as a wide variety of creative workers in screen-based media from diasporic communities of colour, and through an examination of institutional practices in screen media industries and case studies of the CBC television series Little Mosque on the Prairie and the feature film Heaven on Earth, that by and large, legislative frameworks and programs aimed at increasing the “diversity of voices” in screen media have been marginally effective in achieving the results they were intended to achieve. I will argue that unless specific measures accompanied by monitoring with accountable outcomes are instituted to remedy this situation very little will change, with the resulting societal impacts, including a growing sense of alienation and disassociation from Canadian society, as argued by Fleras, Reitz, and Banerjee amongst others
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