Alternative representations of obese people

Q4. Is there evidence or any alternative representations of this group of people in the media, perhaps in different genres? If not, why do you think this is the case?

In terms of obese people in the media, obese people are represented as being quite intelligent and successful, yet they are ridiculed for being overweight, as signified in Family Guy, with Peter Griffin being immature and foolish. Similarly, Homer Simpson is also negatively represented as the fool, who is very irrational.

However, obese people are positively represented across the media,with Eamon Holmes and Fern Britton being successful in the broadcast platform. Though, in terms of comedy, obese people such as Matt Lucas, Johnny Vegas, James Corden are hugely successful . This shows that obese people in the media are not entirely represented negatively and can enable audiences to identify with them, as they are like role models However, the fact that these comedians are white males, signifies how the hegemonic structures seem to represent white people as being more successful, in contrast to ethnic minorities who comprise a small percentage of obese comedians.