The Leaders in Communications lectures series continued Wednesday night with author and professor Kristal Brent Zook, the author of “Color By Fox,” a required read for students in COM 107: Communications and Society.

The lecture hall didn’t offer enough room for all attending students, so monitors accommodated overflow. Zook attended a dinner before the lecture, where she discussed the issues in her book with a group of professors and students. Today, she will meet with graduate students and discuss strategies for entering the entertainment and television industries in Newhouse.

Zook completed her doctoral degree at University of California Santa Barbara in the History of the Consciousness program. Her studies focused on gender and racial roles in the media, specifically television. Zook has published work in publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, USA Weekly, and The LA Times Magazine. Her doctoral dissertation eventually became the manuscript for “Color By Fox.”

Her studies began in the early ‘90s, when she studied black television, specifically that of the Fox network. Her work ended in 1994 when four of the six black shows carried by Fox were cancelled.

For Zook, analyzing black television was “less about positive images and more about complexity.” Her studies aimed to transcend analysis of stereotypes and tried to define gender and black experience in the media.

“Whether it was a white show or black show, I was reading it in terms of race, class, and gender,” Zook said.

The difficulty of separating image from reality was a central topic of discussion.

Another important issue was media ownership.

“We don’t own our images, we don’t own our own representations,” she said. “You’re always going to have a difference of opinion and perspective, but at least if you have diversity of ownership you have a diversity of opinion and perspective.”

She advised that the real power in future black television entertainment was syndication and new technology.

She also discussed “organic integration.” Zook mentioned Thomas Carter, a television producer for various networks, numerous times, as one example. Examples of organic integration included modern drama shows where black actors play roles not wholly about the black experience, such as Eriq Lasalle’s role on “ER” or Steve Harris’ on “The Practice.”

David Spiegel, a sophomore public communications major, said, “They had a lot to say about ownership and the importance of all black networks.”

“I think organic integration was the most important point she made all night,” he added.

The continuing struggle for blacks to create authentic programming was also addressed.

“The struggle is so hard to pinpoint now,” she said.

Television will always be a representation of the struggle by blacks to create an authentic media experience, Zook said.

Students of all races attended the lecture. A large number of communications students came to ask questions to develop a better understanding of black culture in television.

“It’s important to understand people are people when it comes to race and culture,” assistant professor Robert Vickers said. “I think it was particularly useful for white people in the audience.”

The panel also included associate professor of television, radio and film Richard Dubin. His work has involved him with the four major networks, and won him numerous awards. He offered strong advice to future black producers and writers.

“You’ve got to come out here ready to play,” he said

Dubin first met Zook on the set of “Roc” when she was investigating blacks and television for her dissertation.

“It was all very casual — or sneaky,” Dubin said with a laugh.

“If some of the people in decision making power would make some leaps of faith and believe in their audience, we would see some amazing programming.” Zook stated. “I think we’re hungry for something new and different.”

Published on November 6, 2002 at 12:00 pm