Stereotyping, Stigmatization and Sadism Stifle Pakistani Entertainment Media: A Way Forward

Abstract

Entertainment media and emotions are strongly connected, yet emotionally charged
media content often goes unexamined for its supposedly nuanced effect on adult
audiences. We analyzed how primary emotions are portrayed and expressed in popular
Pakistani Televised drama series. Out of almost 100 hours of aired content of five
popular drama serials, 20 hours of content was analyzed. The frequency, intensity, and
types of emotions were recorded in 120 segments for 679 occurrences of emotional
expressions. The most frequently expressed emotions were sadness, surprise, and
happiness. The study concludes that the portrayal of emotions in Pakistani dramas is
mostly stereotypical and exaggerated.