By Samantha Sidi ‘16, Arts and Entertainment Editor

The changing dynamics of television today stem from the rise in diverse protagonists, with non-white people finally being portrayed as three-dimensional characters. People of color, a phrase that encompasses people who identify as African-American, Latino/Hispanic, East Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and multiracial, have frequently served to support the main white characters, which has limited their own narratives. This form of exoticism obstructs the character development; however, television shows, such as Empire and Jane the Virgin, are innovative because they explore the inherent complexity of discussing race in America.

Empire is an innovative show that is centered on a hip-hop mogul with ALS and his family’s fight for control of their company, Empire Entertainment. Jane the Virgin is based on Jane Villanueva, who was accidentally artificially inseminated during a routine checkup with her doctor. It focuses on the conflict between her traditional family values and the pregnancy with a married man who is her boss.

While the plots of both shows may seem unusual, Empire and Jane the Virgin both portray what it is like to be a person of color in America from multiple lenses with a variety of different characters. Both shows are unique in that they bring important cultural tensions and questions of identity to light.

Empire and Jane the Virgin’s success and praise demonstrate the greater need for shows with similar agendas. Despite the unprecedented nature of the shows, Empire has steadily been the most-watched show on Fox with an average of 17 million viewers for the finale. Additionally, Jane the Virgin attracts around 1.6 million viewers, which is comparable to Gossip Girl. Jane the Virgin’s Golden Globe nomination and subsequent win—the first ever in CW history—shows how successful the show has become despite its seemingly small number of viewers as compared to Empire’s. Other shows that focus on portraying minority narratives, like Blackish, which has 7.4 million viewers, have also been successful. Shonda Rhimes’ series Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder received well over 10 million viewers over the course of their seasons. These television shows’ success proves that Americans are ready and willing to engage in discussions about race and racial tensions that are still prevalent in our country.

The shift in television today is a positive one that responds to the need in Hollywood for inclusion of diversity. After the pitiful recognition that minorities received in the awards season, it is encouraging to know that dynamic and complex television shows that reflect the plurality of our country are successful and rising in popularity.