Introduction

Through examinations of training programs designed to increase diversity, independent production practices, activism around "negative" representations, selective uses of sales figures, and the post-racialization of algorithms, the authors in this In Focus are concerned with the production of racialized content and the (re)production of race, audiences, and taste cultures. Kathryn M. Frank's essay examines the comic book industry's use of industry lore-the industrial discourses, often about race, that circulate about the viability of certain media properties whose very existence relies on industry professionals' "gut" instinct versus research. Frank demonstrates how comic book industry decision makers cherry-pick specific data that does not include all points of sales to justify catering to white comic book "fan boys" and then lament that they themselves desire diverse content but must respect the market. [...]Timothy J. Havens calls for a new research agenda with respect to algorithmic data in order to encourage, and perhaps force, streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime to consider and recognize racial and ethnic taste cultures in production, distribution, and acquisition decisions.