Representation in Pop Culture

Next Gen Student Films

A pair of hands holding a pen and writing in a notebook. The notebook has a message written on the right page that reads, "I am not invisible: My identity is just as valuable & worthy as anyone else's." The left page is blank. This scene captures powerful representation resting on a wooden table.

Brainwashed

A Film by Chloe T., The Representation Project, 2021

Through a combination of the narrator’s experience and media clips, this film examines the representation of Middle Eastern people in Hollywood and media and how it affects a greater audience.

Read More
A retro-style television screen displays the text "Pause II: The Problem with Representation in Kid's Media - Part 1." The background shows a pixelated image of a person sitting indoors. There is a black rotary dial and blank space on the right side of the TV, giving it an old-school documentary vibe.

Conditioned

A Film by Angie P., The Representation Project, 2021

Conditioned shows the development of queer children’s media, beginning in the 1930s to present-day movies and TV shows. The filmmaker uses clips of TV shows and films to explore how LGBTQ+ representation can be improved and how representation is linked to acceptance, especially for kids.

Read More
Still from TV show Never Have I Ever

Growing Up Gen Z

A Film by Naila J., The Representation Project, 2020

Growing Up Gen Z is a short documentary film created in The Representation Project’s 2020 Youth Media Academy. Five students across the spectrum of Generation Z consider the influence technology has had on their development thus far and its potential effects on those coming after.

Read More