Orange is the New Black Creator Talks Diversity on the Small Screen
Netflix’ latest hit series, Orange is the New Black has sparked a lot of conversation.
Based on a memoir, OitNB centers on Piper Chapman, a white woman who is sentenced to prison for carrying drug money for her drug-dealing ex-girlfriend.
A lot of the conversation about the series is regarding race and sexuality and how the show handles those things.
Show creator, Jenji Kohan spoke to NPR about her use of a privileged white woman character as a vehicle to bring diversity to the small screen:
On stories about privileged white women and criminality
“In a lot of ways Piper was my Trojan Horse. You’re not going to go into a network and sell a show on really fascinating tales of black women, and Latina women, and old women and criminals. But if you take this white girl, this sort of fish out of water, and you follow her in, you can then expand your world and tell all of those other stories. But it’s a hard sell to just go in and try to sell those stories initially. The girl next door, the cool blonde, is a very easy access point, and it’s relatable for a lot of audiences and a lot of networks looking for a certain demographic. It’s useful.”
What do you think of Kohan’s statements about what kinds of shows networks are willing to buy?
Does the popularity of a show like Scandal challenge that claim?
Do you watch OitNB? What are you thoughts on the show?
Sound off below!!!!