Next week, CTAM will host the Television Critics Tour for television critics, producers, and actors alike. The tour is meant to highlight cultural insights from television shows. We’ve known for years that seeing yourself represented in a show can be a powerful experience.
Vice President Joe Biden commented on this in 2012 when he said “I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.” So as Americans are increasingly seeing themselves represented on screen, what can we do to celebrate the power of TV?
It was this type of reflection that inspired us to launch our campaign, “The Show That Opened My Eyes”. Through that project, our mission has been to highlight shows that had an effect on the American people and showcase the power of diversity in programming. We aim to amplify the power of entertainment and technology to expose Americans to different perspectives.
So as performers and characters continue to embody our country’s melting pot of ethnicities and national origins, gender identities and sexual orientations, body types, standards of beauty, occupations, hobbies, and socio-economic classes – we’re asking what opened your eyes?
Has a show ever opened your eyes to new experiences, pushed you outside your comfort zone, or even educated you on a topic you didn’t understand?
If so, we want to hear from you – visit our campaign page, scroll down, and share your story through video, text, or pictures.
Let’s all join together to celebrate the portrayals and shows that share our stories.
