Race and Racism in the Cultural and Creative Industries

This book uses rigorous case studies with definitive conclusions and develops a critical Cultural Studies perspective on both the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) and diversity politics. Through examining sophisticated processes through which race is negotiated and produced across film, television, public relations and advertising, this book reveals how these industries simultaneously understand race uniformly while operating through heterogeneous structures that both address and enact racism. This analysis exposes the contradictory nature of creative industries that publicly champion inclusivity while perpetuating systemic inequalities through their operational structures. By examining specific sectors within the CCIs, the book illustrates how racial difference is managed, commodified and reproduced through seemingly progressive diversity initiatives. Nwonka and Keddo call for a radical reconceptualisation of how we understand the CCIs' production and management of racial difference, challenging readers to move beyond surface-level diversity metrics towards deeper structural analysis of how creative industries function as sites of racial negotiation. Race and Racism in the Cultural and Creative Industries' critical examination provides essential insights for scholars, practitioners and policymakers working within creative industries, offering frameworks for understanding the complex relationship between cultural production, racial identity and systemic inequality in contemporary Britain.

Nessa Keddo is an Associate Professor in Media, Diversity and Technology in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King's College London. Her research explores how diversity and technological advancements affect labour, production and audiences in the promotional industries, spanning across advertising, marketing and the creator and platform economies. Clive Chijioke Nwonka is an Associate Professor in Film, Culture and Society in the School of European Languages, Culture and Society within UCL's Faculty of the Arts and Humanities and a Faculty Associate of the UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation.

Introduction Chapter One: The Diversity Industrial Complex: Critical Perspectives on the UK Screen Industries and Racial Difference Chapter Two: The Manifestation of Racism in Advertising and Marketing Chapter Three: Segregated Visibilities: Race, Popular Consecration and the BAFTA Rising Star Awards Chapter Four: Performativity and Diversity Policy as Strategic Public Relations Tools Conclusion