Post Colonialism Blog Task

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

Alvarado's theory (1987) was that black people in the media are split into four categories:

• Exotic (Models, Music Artists, Athletes and Food)
• Dangerous (Crime, Gangs and Socially Dysfunctional)
• Humorous (Comedians and Sidekicks)
• Pitted (Poverty)

Frantz Fanon (1952) Claimed that black people were "Were putting on the white mask." He also said that black stereotypes can be:

• Infantilize (Children in Poverty)
• Primitivize (Beats, Sporting Prowess)
• Decivilize (Gangster, Pimps)
• Esssentialize (All look the same)

Edward Said said  there is Gulf between the east and west. Also Civilised vs Uncivilised.

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 uncivilised east?

I think there are both positive and negative representations of British Muslims in this film. A negative representation is firstly shown sue to the main character. She pretends she is a good Muslim woman to her family, but when she is at work, she looks like western woman. This means she is trying to conform to two different parts of society and by doing so she is conceding her morals and religion. However there is also a positive representation of British Muslims in this film as the boy, who has also conformed a little to western ways, which is shown by his Nike trainers, however has not neglected his religion and morals. This is shown when he still goes to pray when the call to pray comes out in the city. This therefore can mean that British Muslims are able to conform with western ways, and still be religious. 

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.


Alvardo.

Fannon 

Said