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    Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

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    TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

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    IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

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    TAS rookie team exceeds expectations in the Taiwan regional FRC competition

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    Travel restrictions tighten through second semester

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    Adulting 101: TAS prepares students for life after graduation

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    Middle school camp Taiwan is postponed due to COVID-19

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    Dr. Williamson gets published in the Journal of Modern Literature

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    StuGov rented out an amusement park for Halloween

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    Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

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    Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

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    Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

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    Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

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    What I wish I knew before applying to college

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    Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

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    Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

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    How to Safely Celebrate this Chinese New Year

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      Headline: Dhirpal Shah (‘20) takes a gap year to pursue a professional soccer career

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      Classes more people should know about

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      Lower school students launch gardening initiative

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      Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

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      Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

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      The show must go on with masks, jokes, and new song lyrics

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      Amanda Huang: From former editor in chief of The Blue & Gold to current editor in chief of The Quill at Claremont McKenna

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        Wood & Pot: New tropical-themed restaurant in Tianmu serves delicious and beautifully plated rice and noodle dishes

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        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

        TAS rookie team exceeds expectations in the Taiwan regional FRC competition

        TAS rookie team exceeds expectations in the Taiwan regional FRC competition

        Travel restrictions tighten through second semester

        Travel restrictions tighten through second semester

        Adulting 101: TAS prepares students for life after graduation

        Adulting 101: TAS prepares students for life after graduation

        Middle school camp Taiwan is postponed due to COVID-19

        Middle school camp Taiwan is postponed due to COVID-19

        Dr. Williamson gets published in the Journal of Modern Literature

        Dr. Williamson gets published in the Journal of Modern Literature

        StuGov rented out an amusement park for Halloween

        StuGov rented out an amusement park for Halloween

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        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Exclusive library study rooms further toxic academic culture at TAS

        How to Safely Celebrate this Chinese New Year

        How to Safely Celebrate this Chinese New Year

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        • Features
          Headline: Dhirpal Shah (‘20) takes a gap year to pursue a professional soccer career

          Headline: Dhirpal Shah (‘20) takes a gap year to pursue a professional soccer career

          Classes more people should know about

          Classes more people should know about

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          New weekly advisory meetings raise controversy

          New weekly advisory meetings raise controversy

          The show must go on with masks, jokes, and new song lyrics

          The show must go on with masks, jokes, and new song lyrics

          Amanda Huang: From former editor in chief of The Blue & Gold to current editor in chief of The Quill at Claremont McKenna

          Amanda Huang: From former editor in chief of The Blue & Gold to current editor in chief of The Quill at Claremont McKenna

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            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

            The Bal’e Villa, perfect place to relax in nature

            The Bal’e Villa, perfect place to relax in nature

            Wood & Pot: New tropical-themed restaurant in Tianmu serves delicious and beautifully plated rice and noodle dishes

            Wood & Pot: New tropical-themed restaurant in Tianmu serves delicious and beautifully plated rice and noodle dishes

            REVIEW | “To All The Boys: Always and Forever”

            Game-changing Google applications all students must try

            Game-changing Google applications all students must try

            A deeper look into our favorite albums

            A deeper look into our favorite albums

            Classic literature movies are not worth it

            Classic literature movies are not worth it

            The Blue & Gold presents three  school-friendly applications

            The Blue & Gold presents three school-friendly applications

            Book Corner: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”

            Book Corner: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”

            2020 Netflix documentaries on female star singers

            2020 Netflix documentaries on female star singers

            The complete disappointment of “Big Brother” 22

            The complete disappointment of “Big Brother” 22

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          Home Opinion

          Reality TV needs more diversity

          by Ariel L. ('23)
          10/08/2020
          in Opinion
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          Reality TV needs more diversity

          [PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLIE SIVARAM ON UNSPLASH]

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          In an ever changing world, diversity is important whether that is in reality shows or TV programs. It is vital to incorporate different cultures so that audiences can learn about new perspectives and other people’s experiences.

          Reality shows often have a “token minority,” meaning that they add a contestant from a different background to add the pretense of diversity to a cast. According to research conducted at Iowa State University, 90% of reality TV contestants are usually Caucasian and skinny. The only reason this number is not higher is that producers typically add in a few African-Americans in an attempt to seem more diverse.

          The aim of reality TV competitions are mostly to entertain but they are also for viewers to see real life social situations unfold. This cannot happen when other ethnic backgrounds are not being represented.

          An example of a show would be ABC’s “The Bachelor.” The show is about a guy who tries to find love amongst 25 to 30 different girls and chooses one person to marry at the end. Since the show started in 2002 there has always been an overwhelmingly white presence. This is evident with both the contestants and the bachelors. Out of the first 20 seasons there has been only one bachelor from a minority background being Juan Pablo who is Latino.

          According to CNN, the franchise was targeted in 2012 for a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. The suit alleged that ABC does not cast people of color because interracial romances would cause controversy among the target audience. Even if the lawsuit was dismissed due to First Amendment rights, the lawsuit brings up an important point.

          Other competition shows such as “Project Runway” and “Survivor” are much more diverse than “The Bachelor.” “The Bachelor,” does not represent the concept of love and does not reflect today’s America with people from multicultural backgrounds. People want to see contestants who are similar to themselves so they feel more connected while watching the show.

          Another example is CBS’s “Big Brother.” The show has always been criticized for not having a variety of diverse contestants. Big brother is a show where ordinary people live in a house for a month and compete in challenges for power and are evicted weekly until only two houseguests are left. Then the jury made up of evicted houseguests vote on who wins the cash prize.

          Over the many seasons of the show, less than 30% of the contestants are people of color. The show also has the tendency for racism with a lot of racial slurs and comments. One constant even told an Asian American houseguest to “shut up” and “go make some rice.” The contestant also referred to her as Kim Jong Un.

          This type of behavior is unacceptable especially in today’s society where people should be treated fairly and equally. Former contestants also think this. Former winner Andy Herren even said that diversity on the show “has always been atrocious.” Another contestant David Alexander addressed the concept of diversity when he competed on Big Brother 22. “The reason I wanted to win—the reason I wanted to compete and be on this show—I want to be the first, like, Black person to win Big Brother,” he said

          Recently another contestant Da’Vonne Rogers was evicted but she went out with an important note. In her moving speech she seemed to expect her own elimination and used the floor to advocate for more diversity on shows like “Big Brother.” She also listed inspiring Black women who have appeared on the series already. But she also talked about how there has never been a Black person to make it to the end and win.

          Reality TV shows need to diversify their casts to give viewers the opportunity to see different perspectives and experiences. These shows are supposed to be social experiments but this cannot happen when casts are made primarily out of caucasian people.

          Tags: highlight
          Ariel L. ('23)

          Ariel L. ('23)

          Ariel is a sophomore at Taipei American School. Originally from Arizona, Ariel has lived in Taiwan for the majority of her life and in Canada for 2 years. She loves reading books of various genres and traveling to around the world. She also enjoys working on personal art projects. In her free time she can be seen hanging out with friends, shopping or watching Tv shows. Her current favorites are Gossip Girl and How I Met Your Mother.

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