Download - Post colonial perspectives
Post-colonial perspectives
Race & Ideology
What is post-colonialism?
• A critique of western representations of race, ethnicity, culture, and human identity after colonisation
• The discourses that no culture is better or worse than other cultures
• The study of the power relationships between previously colonised cultures and people
Race & Ideology
• Colonisation and intermixing = lack of racially distinctive groups
• Perceived physical & cultural differences = basis for ethnic and racial groupings
• Beliefs that other racial/ethnic groups inferior traced back to colonial ideas/justification
Racialisation
• Race is a social construction
• Races do not exist outside representation
• Historical formation of race occupies structurally subordinate positions
Race & entertainmentColonial perspectives alive and
well…• Dark skin signifies different
nature/way of being from white (natural rhythm, good sports etc…)
• Ideas like this give unthreatening (to white) stereotype of black people
• Does not take into account socio-economic reasons
Race & entertainmentEthnic groups have been
marginalised by white media…
• Black R+B turns into rock, rap to hip hop
• Musicians turned into caricatures of themselves
• Asians portrayed as doctors and shopkeepers
• Minimal and stereotyped representations leading to lack of voice
http://vodpod.com/watch/2305030-australian-tv-show-airs-a-blackface-skit-calling-it-the-jackson-jive-michael-jackson-tribute-one-of-the-judges-harry-connick-jr-gets-offended-we-spend-so-much-time-trying-to-not-make-black-pe
Portraying Black People as Problems
• News media commonly represent black people as problematic
• 1960’s – threat to UK through immigration
• Modern – law and order problem
Via… • Dramatic headlines/ banner
positions/regurgitation of popular fears/ damning reports from authority figures etc…
• Language inflames situation• Socio-economic reasons overlooked
• Picked up on and repeated in film/TV etc
Third World Images• Localised inequalities
reproduced on world scale
• Famine, civil war etc oversimplified for western consumption
• Emphasis on aid/money as solution reinforces stereotypes
• Holiday shows/ tours etc show ‘exotic’ ideals
Race & Eastenders
• Black & Asian characters can have stereotypical roles
• Racial issues are tackled but not as an overview
• Times article• Characters are under
represented
• How does Eastenders define ethnic difference?
Look at these or other examples of non-white ethnicity in the news and entertainment media. Analyse via a post-
colonial perspective
• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/asia
• http://www.destinasian.com/
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific or africa or south east asia
• Clips from Fresh Prince – Hip hop music videos -