Overall I think it’s important to have representation of different groups of people in media. LatinX people, as well as many other minority groups have limited representation and what is showcased is often stereotypical of how those communities are. Washington Heights, for one has a large influx of LatinX people, thus it’s important for the experiences of these people to be showcased in media. While In the Heights does a good job at showcasing this, it’s not perfect, as it’s lacking in Afro LatinX representation. However, I do think people like Lin Manuel Miranda are doing what they can to write stories that their communities can see themselves in. This is a step in the right direction to better representation in the future.
In the Heights
Group Members: Savannah Hope
How did completing your project help you explore the role of arts in the lives of New Yorkers and their communities?
There is so much beauty in every single community that often times gets underlooked. I enjoy musicals, but I mostly watch them for fun. By doing this project, I was able really analyze these characters on a more narrow scope and from that I was able to get a better understanding of the significance of the musical as a whole. I also now know why this movie/musical was so significant for not only LatinX people living in Washington Heights, but LatinX people across the US because they were able to see themselves in media. If Lin Manuel can take take common people, and make a 3hr musically about their lives, and do so in a creative way, then that shows it is possible to have diverse representation in media.
