POWER ISSUES IN RACE AND ETHNICITY: A POSTCOLONIAL READING OF CULTURAL REPRESENTATION IN “EMILY IN PARIS”

Cindy Zahra Devita

doi:10.56413/studi ilmiah sastra.v15i2.545

Cindy Zahra Devita Universitas Nasional Pasim

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56413/studi%20ilmiah%20sastra.v15i2.545

Keywords: postcolonialism, race, representation, cultural studies, emily in paris

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of power, race, and ethnicity in Netflix’s Emily in Paris (2020–present) through the lens of postcolonial theory. While the series is often celebrated for its cosmopolitan aesthetics and lighthearted portrayal of cross-cultural encounters, it simultaneously reproduces neo-colonial power relations embedded in Western media discourse. Drawing on the theoretical insights of Stuart Hall, Homi K. Bhabha, bell hooks, and Richard Dyer, this study explores how Emily in Paris constructs cultural hierarchies through the commodification of difference and the normalization of whiteness as a universal standard. Employing a qualitative textual analysis, the research investigates how the protagonist’s “American perspective” symbolizes a continuation of cultural imperialism disguised as modernity and empowerment. Through its depiction of fashion, marketing, and interpersonal dynamics, the series frames the Western, specifically American, subject as an agent of progress and rationality amid a supposedly backward or resistant local culture. The findings reveal that beneath its global appeal and superficial diversity, Emily in Paris perpetuates asymmetrical power structures that align with postcolonial critiques of representation and cultural hegemony. This study contributes to broader discussions in cultural and media studies by highlighting how postcolonial frameworks remain vital for understanding racial and ethnic representation in contemporary global entertainment.

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