FROM STEREOTYPES TO COMPLEX CHARACTERS: THE EVOLUTION OF IMMIGRANT REPRESENTATION IN HOLLYWOOD THROUGH THE LENS OF “COMING TO AMERICA” AND “EMILY IN PARIS”

Abstract

This dissertation examines how Hollywood’s portrayal of immigrants has evolved, focusing on the 1988 film Coming to America and the 2020 TV series Emily in Paris. It explores how these works humanize cultural identities, balance native and host cultures, and show the influence of fashion and social media. Coming to America challenges stereotypes by presenting a wealthy African prince who defies Western perceptions, highlighting cultural pride over assimilation. In contrast, Emily in Paris offers a modern view of cultural exchange, using social media and fashion as tools of assimilation and identity in Parisian society. Drawing on theorists like Roland Barthes, Stuart Hall, and Pierre Bourdieu, the study analyzes fashion and social media as forms of cultural capital and social power. Barthes’ idea of fashion as a system of signs helps interpret the visual language of clothing, while Hall’s theories on representation show how media shape identity. Bourdieu’s notion of cultural capital reveals how characters navigate social hierarchies and assert their identities. The dissertation argues that these cinematic shifts reflect broader discussions on diversity, globalization, and digital media’s role in identity. It underscores the complex realities of cultural assimilation and the human stories behind these portrayals.