Post-colonialism

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

Alvarado (1987)- racial representations in relation to the black community

• Exotic (models; music artists; food)
• Dangerous (crime; gangs; socially dysfunctional)
• Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)
• Pitied (poverty)

Fanon- Typically black stereotypes can:

• Essentialize - Undifferentiated mass-'they all look the same to me'
• Infantilize - such as the 'cute' children of the Charity Poster
• Decivilize - The 'Gangsta', 'Pimp' etc.
• Primitivize - The 'exotic' and uncivilised people of usually eastern culture 

Said (1978) - Theory of Orientalism

• The West, particularly the colonisers constructed the meaning of the East as dangerous and 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?

From the opening of Yasmin we can see a positive view of British Muslims as they're fitting into society and we can see this by the young boy who is praying at the start and is wearing British clothing. This is rejecting the stereotypes we have of British Muslims although we see yasmin stuck between both cultures to fit into society. However, there is a man who is presented as being dirty and uncivilised which is the contrast between east and west which reinforced the negative stereotypes of British Muslims.

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.

Django Unchained 

Linked to Said's theory of orientalism as the black people in the film are looked down upon by the powerful.

Get Rich or Die Tryin

Supports Fanon's ideas of decivilizing as the video is promoting the gangster lifestyle that is associated with black people.

Straight Outta Compton

Links to most of Alvardos theory such as Exotic (models; music artists; food) as they are artists and Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)

Boys In The Hood

Showcases how westernised the cop is as he is being racist to his own race.

Death At Funeral 

Links Alvarado as the characters in this movie are indeed Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)

Taken 

Links to said representation theory as The West, particularly the colonisers constructed the meaning of the East as dangerous and uncivilised.  

Zero Dark Thirty

The West, particularly the colonisers constructed the meaning of the East as dangerous and uncivilised. 

Swimming Pool

 Supports Fanons theory as it is Essentialising black people as vulnerable.

White Chicks

This links Alvardo as black people in the movie are Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)