How to Get Away with Murder

When thinking about How to Get Away with Murder, I'm constantly reminded of the fact that the show is incredibly inclusive compared to all other shows that I see in media today. Starting with exclusion, it's upsetting to realize what the show has omitted. It lacks Asian representation and also doesn't feature disabled people. It's hard to recognize stereotyping within the show because I think a lot of what's demonstrated is either true or a variation of assimilation. Some characters experience assimilation by being represented as middle or upper class while also being a minority. The lead woman, played by Viola Davis, is an incredible lawyer who makes good money and lives a prestigious lifestyle. I struggle with thinking that this is assimilation because there are occasional references to her past that express financial hardship of growing up in the South, but these episodes are not frequent and there's a lack of racism that's acknowledged in the show. The same can be said for the Latin woman in the show; she comes from a rich background and faces minimal adversity when it comes to her culture or identity. I don't think that there's much tokenism happening within the show. The only thing that I can think of is how Viola Davis' character is the only bi-sexual that's been represented, but even then, the show only exposed us to her bi-sexual lifestyle in about three episodes. I wouldn't say that the show features othering. I also don't think the show features exoticism. I am, however, unsure about the ideology of difference. We aren't exposed to a lot of the black culture within this show and because of this, it's hard to know if the show is trying to give us a different culture to consume. I think the fact that the lead woman is black gives audiences a sense of inclusion that's pleasurable, but not in the same way that the ideology of difference is defined.