Post-Colonialism Task (Theories + Yasmin extract + 3 Clips/Theory)

To complete our work on post-colonial theory, work through the following tasks:

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

Alvarado (1987)
Four key themes in racial representations:

Often quoted in relation to the black community but can be applied to other non-white groups

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

Frantz Fanon: “Putting on the white mask”

Typically black stereotypes can:
• Infantilize - such as the 'cute' children of the Charity Poster or the 'simple-minded‘ 'Step ‘n’ fetch it‘ lazy comedian.
• Primitivize - The 'exotic & virile' tribal warriors or 'bare-breasted maidens' with a 'natural sense of rhythm‘. Sporting prowess.
• Decivilize - The 'Gangsta', 'Pimp' etc.
• Essentialize - Undifferentiated mass-'they all look the same to me'

Edward Saids.T : ''Orientalism''

Orientalism” is a way of seeing that imagines, emphasizes, exaggerates and distorts differences of Arab peoples and cultures as compared to that of Europe and the U.S. It often involves seeing Arab culture as exotic, backward, uncivilized, and at times dangerous.|









 2) Does the opening of Yasmin (2004) 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?

A negative representation/view of British Muslims is shown as a man is shown to be eating peanut butter with his hands, as opposed to using cutlery, and using plates which is the ''civillized'' way of doing it. Not only this but the lack of road sense shown in the children travelling around the streets, and the noise created by them indicates children are raised to not be too concerned of how to act in society, and this can be seen as uncivillised, in comparison to the expectations of children in Britain, showing that the west is more superior in that sense.
The british girl is trying to put on the ''white mask'' in order to fit in, showing that the West is seen by her as what is ''civillised'', so her views can also be linked with Said's theory. She hides that she wears a headscarf, and a lose asian-style tunic, rather than a tight brighter short jumper, on jeans, this also shows that the West is more exotic, and people are more open-minded - because the girl has hidden her true appearance from her british muslim family, however feels free when away from them, with british friends/colleagues.