The quest for normalcy: signifying interracial romantic alliances in ABC’s Scandal

Abstract

The objective of this analysis is to analyze the first six seasons of Scandal to examine the signification of interracial relationships within a contemporary mass-mediated (con)text where post-racialism has become part of the dominant non-diegetic discourse. More specifically, I assume a semiotic analytic frame to focus on the interracial romantic alliance between high profile DC political players, Olivia Pope and Fitzgerald Grant (aka “Olitz”). The analysis identifies four signifiers across six seasons (interracial romantic alliances as pathologically based, post-racial realities as white privilege, racial consciousness as black penalty, and interracial relational normalcy as elusive and improbable) that collectively reflect problematic representations of interracial romantic relationships characteristic of past stereotypical depictions.