Identities: Post-colonial theory

1) List FIVE films, FIVE TV programmes and FIVE online-only productions that are discussed in the article.

- Five films: Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008), Bullet Boy (2004), Anuvahood (2011), Rollin’ With The Nines (2006), Attack The Block (2011), Sket (2011) and Shank (2012) and Ill Manors (2012)

-Five TV Programmes: Citizen Khan, Eastenders, TopBoy, Line of Duty and Luther

-Five online-only productions: Meet the Adebanjos, Brothers With No Game, Venus vs Mars, The Ryan Sisters and All About The McKenzies. 

2) Watch Destiny Ekaragha's clips above (more of her work is available on her website, including the short film The Park). To what extent can we apply Alvarado's and Fanon's theories to these films? Do they reinforce or subvert typical black stereotypes in British film and TV? Refer to specific scenes and events in the clips in answering this question and aim for at least 350 words.

The dominant presentation within Ekaragha's productions is the representation of the social norms and ideologies in Black sub-cultures. Below I will present the extent in which Alvarado and Fanon's theory has been reinforced: 

Alvarado (1987) Four key themes in racial representations:

• Exotic (models; music artists; food)

Gone Too Far - The medium long shot and extreme close up of the mums sandals presents traditional African costumes, such as the dress and the head attire. 

• Dangerous (crime; gangs; socially dysfunctional)

Tight Jeans - The three males were situated in an urban location by an estate, sitting on a wall, as presented in the still medium long shot. Despite the lightness and comicality of the conversation - to an outsider, it could appear as antisocial and dysfunctional behaviour.

• Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)

Tight Jeans - The colloquialism of the black male youths follows a strong sense of comedy, one that would be of interest for a C-D demographic of male youths also. The characters are presented as a comedians and 'jokers'.

• Pitied (poverty)

Tight Jeans - The clothes in which the characters are seen to be wearing and the locations, indirectly associate them with a sense of poverty, through the overall lower class aesthetic. 

Frantz Fanon: “Putting on the white mask”

• Infantilize - such as the 'cute' children of the Charity Poster or the 'simple-minded‘ 'Step ‘n’ fetch it‘ lazy comedian. 

- there isn't a strong sense of 'cuteness' associated with any of the characters. 

• Primitivize - The 'exotic & virile' tribal warriors or 'bare-breasted maidens' with a 'natural sense of rhythm‘. Sporting prowess.

As discussed above, the attire in Gone Too Far, strongly refers to the exoiticness of the black characters - accentuated through the accent of the African male. 

In terms of "Putting on a white mask", it seems as though the black females in Gone Too Far, have changed their aesthetic to fit into the "white" aesthetic with the lighter make-up and straight hair extensions. 

It seems as though Ekaragha's depiction of black characters has reinforced the existing theories that are associated with them in terms Fanon and Avarado's. However, it is fair to say through the extremely comical related narrative that she wants to subvert the dehumanising and reinforcement of negative ideologies and instead wants to present their roles within different social constructs.