Theoretical Framework
The theories used throughout this research project will be critical race theory, developed in 1970s during the civil rights movement and Marx’s criticism on capitalism, specifically exploitation of labor. For critical race theory, the connection between theory and this research project starts at the foundation of the project, analyzing the racial identity of wrestling. Critical race theory focuses on the intersection of law in the United States and race, and how race is constantly a factor in how marginalized groups of people are oppressed in this country. Pro wrestling despite being a luxurious occupation, still uses the race of a wrestler as the focal point of a storyline or stereotypes them for comedic relief and profit. This mistreatment ties directly into Marx’s exploitation of labor, exploiting these wrestlers because they provide a false sense of diversity in these companies. This research shows that when diverse wrestlers work in some of these companies, they are ridiculed and subjected to racist segments and lose the matches into which they are put. Pro wrestling unlike other sports, is scripted and produced by a group of storyboard writers which is even more of a reason these two connect. These wrestlers of colour essentially submit to what their employers want instead of pushing back like in other sports, their race is a commodity to these companies, it allows these owners to make more profit because it reflects some of their audiences. And so, the theoretical aspect of this project connects to the critical race theory’s concept of mistreatment based on race and the exploitation of labor having these wrestlers’ majority of the time play stereotypes only to make them look foolish and gain little to no success or profit from it.The theories used throughout this research project will be critical race theory, developed in 1970s during the civil rights movement and Marx’s criticism on capitalism, specifically exploitation of labor. For critical race theory, the connection between theory and this research project starts at the foundation of the project, analyzing the racial identity of wrestling. Critical race theory focuses on the intersection of law in the United States and race, and how race is constantly a factor in how marginalized groups of people are oppressed in this country. Pro wrestling despite being a luxurious occupation, still uses the race of a wrestler as the focal point of a storyline or stereotypes them for comedic relief and profit. This mistreatment ties directly into Marx’s exploitation of labor, exploiting these wrestlers because they provide a false sense of diversity in these companies. This research shows that when diverse wrestlers work in some of these companies, they are ridiculed and subjected to racist segments and lose the matches into which they are put. Pro wrestling unlike other sports, is scripted and produced by a group of storyboard writers which is even more of a reason these two connect. These wrestlers of colour essentially submit to what their employers want instead of pushing back like in other sports, their race is a commodity to these companies, it allows these owners to make more profit because it reflects some of their audiences. And so, the theoretical aspect of this project connects to the critical race theory’s concept of mistreatment based on race and the exploitation of labor having these wrestlers’ majority of the time play stereotypes only to make them look foolish and gain little to no success or profit from it.
MEDIA AND PRESENTATION OF RACE
While professional wrestling balances between the realms of media and sport, there are a lot of connections we can find in other forms of entertainment. In a way entertainment media is a form of art and just like most art, entertainment media imitates life. Gerhauser reinforces that by referencing the events of 9/11 influencing media “perpetuated suspicion of Arab-Americans and Muslims and their affiliation with terrorist groups” (Gerhauser 2014). Gerhauser shows that media has enough influence to villainize an entire group of people through stereotypes and generalizations, and as described in Depictions of Race in media, “the American media have a powerful and persuasive effect on our society” (Films media group 2008). This form of generalization can be found from everything from the action movies- local news. The issue also lies when these presentations of race are placed in media that younger audiences consume. Few instances arise when characters of marginalized groups appear in children’s media but when they do it is for small appearances, and they are portrayed in a negative light (Haddock 2003). In the same regard professional wrestling carries that responsibility, influencing children from a young age, “pro wrestling targets impressionable children, and it makes a fortune in the process” (Edwards 1993).
If these stereotypes are all that the public consume, they will then start to believe that it is the “ideal typical person” that the audience has a relationship with and what these certain characters should be (Films media group 2008). These three authors/organizations have a link between them in showing how important media is in representing race. This presentation of race defines how we treat marginalized groups or even the majority in our society today, and although we have progressed, the stereotypes still linger in the back.
WHITENESS AND MEDIA
One of the other concepts that is necessary to discuss within this project is how White wrestlers and characters identify within the media. Media reflects the truth that whiteness still holds an “advantage in societies structured in racial dominance” (Rasmussen 2001). This is also holding value to the research because we see that dominance in wrestling, most of the time white wrestlers hold dominance in the world of wrestling. The Journal of popular culture agrees with this theory by referencing a prominent white wrestler.” In comparison [to wrestlers of colour], John Cena’s whiteness, emblematic of the US nation-state, is featured through his ability to produce patriotic discourse on the microphone during the (live) televised events, but also through his hip hop clothing style glamorizing poverty to create a street-style brawler persona” (Taylor 2014). This theme of whiteness in media gives the research a contrast, comparing how marginalized groups are always forced to take a back seat for the benefit of white athletes and specifically white wrestlers.