Colonialism, Post-Colonialism,

Orientalism and Ethnicity

Colonialism and Post-Colonialism In 19th and 20th centuries, European powers held

colonies in Africa based on slavery and exploitation of resources. Many products of this era presented racist images

to naturalise colonialism.

We now live in the ‘post-colonial’ era. However this term could be problematic because it

suggests the influence of that era is over (it is not –big companies like BP still linked to this era)

Post-Colonialists suggest that there is a lack of black images in media.

‘Not a matter of what is but what isn’t’

Apart from Naomi Campbell there is

a lack of black fashion models.

Only recently have news reporters

become more varied in race.

The key news sources as still

Western (suggests white-west is

most trusted) BBC, CNN etc.

Bell Hooks

The colour codes – lighter skinned women are

more desirable and fit better with the western

idea of beauty.

Black women are often more objectified or

abused (eg. Hip hop) showing colonialist

views of black women.

Commodified blackness becomes the norm.

Edward Said – Orientalism

Western culture constructed against

assumed other (orient).

It holds both fascination and fear.

Eg. North Korean Bond villain in Die

Another Day.

Diaspora Identity

Those driven to migration have

developed a sense of ‘otherness’ or

Diaspora identity.

It is not always negative – can be seen

in multi-cultural music such as Asian

Network in the UK.

Gurinder Chadha shows a positive

Asian-British identity in films like Bend It

Like Beckham or Bride and Prejudice.

Mixed a classic British novel with

Bollywood cinema.

Alvarado – stereotypes of the black

community

Believes there are 4 types of representation of

the black community:

The humorous – entertainers, comedians,

icons and idols.

The exotic – models or the sexually

promiscuous.

The pitied – the needy black community

through events like band aid or films about

previous atrocities.

The dangerous – criminals, gangs, pimps.

Stuart Hall – stereotypes of the black

community

There is a blur in media between race and

class.

Outlines 3 base images in the ‘grammar of

race’ in ‘old movies’:

Slave Figure – dependable, loving, devoted

to mother/master.

The Native – because of their primitive

nature, they are cheating, cunning

barbarians.

The Entertainer – innate humour of the

black man (are we laughing at or with

them?)

Tessa Perkins and Stereotypes

Need to reconsider stereotypes:

Not always incorrect or negative.

Not always about minority or repressed groups or

those we have little contact with.

Not always simple and rigid.

You cannot predict someone’s behavior to a

group based on a stereotype the hold of them.

Some are based on some truth, and they are

important to understand social interaction and

interpretation.

Minorities in our media

Consider the roles they play in our media eg.

Villain, or helper. Can be known to rely on

stereotypes such as shopkeeper or arranged

marriages.

Can often be constructed in binary oppositions,

which can lead to negative attitudes or

emphasise boundaries between groups.

Can be argued there is increased diversity – rise

in independence of black community through

magazines like Ebony for black women or Asian

Women.

Minorities in our media New problematic representations like ‘terrorists’.

Can introduce fear of ethnic groups.

The image of asylum-seekers of immigrants as lazy. October 2003 Press Complaints Commission said –

“danger that inaccurate, misleading or distorted reporting could lead to fear and hostility that is not borne out by facts”.

There can be little distinction made in media between illegal-immigrants, asylum-seekers, legal-immigrants and non-white British citizens. MediaWise Trust set out guidelines to prevent racist or

harmful reporting.

Hip Hop and its significance

Tricia Rose – it gives black female rappers

empowerment, and offers an insight into these

people’s lives.

Paul Gilroy – Offers diasporic experiences of

opposition to white capitalist culture.

Michael Eric Dyson – Political rap did not get

the support it deserved in the 80s or 90s so

has become flash, sexualised and criminal –

but has become more mainstream even

though it is frowned upon.

Black Cinema and its significance Kobena Mercer - Black gay film shows dual

exclusion (being gay and black). Directors such as Isaac Julian introduce varied representation.

Jacques Lacan - Seeing iconic rappers who are successful ‘young black males’ may see them as a superior reflection of themselves they could aspire to.

Michel Foucault - Archaeology is looking at history as a way of understanding the processes that have led to what we are today. Take into account past representations and how they have contributed to today e.g. Blaxploitation films (70s)