Post-colonialism: final blog tasks

1) Summarize the three theorists we have looked at: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.

Alvarado: Suggests four key themes in racial representations

P - ITIED
H - UMOROUS 
D - ANGEROUS
E - XOTIC 

These themes in racial representations are most often spoken of when referring to the black community but can be applied to other non-white groups as well.

Fanon: Suggested that typical black stereotypes can:

P - RIMITIVIZE
I - NFANTILIZE
E - SSENTIALIZE
D - ECIVILIZE

Said: Argues that the West constructed a meaning of the East that saw them as dangerous and uncivilized.

Typical representations of the Middle East in Western media

- Extremism 
- Hot Weather
- Violent
- Power hungry 
- Pitied (Alvarado) Weak + helpless they are appealing to the Western society for help

2) Watch the opening of Yasmin (2004) again. Does it offer a positive or negative view of British Muslims? To what extent does it reinforce or challenge Edward Said's theory of Orientalism - that the west is superior to the exotic or uncivilized east?

After watching the opening of Yasmin (2004) I think it offers both a positive and a negative representation of British Muslims. The representation of British Muslims is positive in that the young boy is presented as the model Muslim boy attending pray and making the call to pray staying out of trouble. Another positive representation of British Muslims is with the character of Yasmin doing her part in society and helping the disabled individuals board the bus; she is doing society good. On the other hand, there is also a negative representation of British Muslims presented, one such scene would be when the police stop Yasmin it could be questioned as to whether they have stopped her because of the who she identifies as at that point; it could be suggested that the Western society have an intolerance to people being different which might be why prior to this scene we see Yasmin in Western clothes as though she is trying to hide her identity because of the stereotypes associated to Muslim people in Western society; she is trying to blend in with the Western culture. 

This extract from Yasmin (2004) both reinforces and subverts Said's Orientalism theory. Said's theory is reinforced from this extract in the scene where we see the graffiti on the mosque shutter reading 'Paki go home', this scene reinforces Said's theory as Muslim's are being 'Essentialized' (Fanon) they are all seen as being the same dangerous, uncivilised (Said) and violent people we hear about in the news.  On the other hand, Said's theory is challenged from this extract in the scene where we see Yasmin doing her part in society and helping the disabled which shows that not all British Muslim's are painted with the same brush that the Western media shows of all British Muslim's being dangerous and violent people. 

3) Finally, choose THREE clips for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick a selection of clips on YouTube from TV, film, music video or advertising and embed them in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need NINE clips in total on this blogpost.

Above is an example from print, e- media and TV which demonstrates 'pitied' one of four key themes in racial representation suggested by Alvarado (1987). These examples, demonstrate a need for the East to be rescued they are dependent on the Western society to help them so they are appealing to us. 

These particular examples showing coverage of the 2011 London riots across print,e-media and broadcast demonstrate Fanon's 'Decivilise' and 'Essentialise' points. First, the deciivilise point is demonstrated as the coverage of the riots presented those involved as the 'gangsta' the dangerous criminal people to be aware of. Then the point of 'essentialize' is demonstrated because all those involved in the riots were being paid with the same brush in the media which is that they are all dangerous, uncivilised criminals all dressed in hoodies and jogger bottoms  a low class the less important who felt the need to loot. When in actual fact this wasn't the case as there was the likes of Oxford graduates and doctors involved too and these people are of middle class families. 

The Bend it like Beckham clip subverts Said's suggestion that people of the eastern culture are all dangerous and uncivilised individuals. This is because the Sikh family it is based around live in UK doing there part in society (Jess sister works) they are a middle class family just looking to give Jess the best possible chance in live. In this particular clip I think that through Said theory it isn't the case that the western society are more superior because Jess dad and mum think quite low of the life that the middle class white English girl leads. 

The second clip is from West is West and this is reinforcing Said theory and definitely demonstrates a division between the way the Western society see those of the Eastern society. There is a sense of a culture clash. From what I know about the storyline the western society think less of those from the eastern society it seems as though they are displayed quite some way down on the scale of importance in the western eye. 

The final clip is from Bride and Prejudice and again demonstrates a culture clash. The English people in the clip are shown to have a strange view of the eastern culture almost laughing at there way of celebration. The English people (western society people) seem to think less of the eastern culture and there way of living as they are in the mist of expericing it.