Post-colonialism: Edward Said

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

• Fanon - "putting on a white mask", "adopting white middle class values", Essentialise - they all look the same, Civilised. e.g. Bend it Like Beckham. 
• Alvarado - four dominant representations of black community: dangerous, pity, humorous and exotic. (e.g. Comic relief) 
• Said - Orientialism: "Them and Us", "East vs. West", "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?

The representations found in 'Yasmin' are a combination of positive and negative. Firstly, there is a strong presentation of the ethnic minority as poor and of the C-D demographic, shown through the medium long shots of the run down working class aesthetic on-screen. In terms of negative stereotyping, Said's Orientalism theory is reinforced through the binary opposition of the 'superior' west, shown through the white male police officers, in conjunction with the Muslim women who symbolises the 'dangerous' east. The sense of 'exotic' behaviour amongst the ethnic minority is captured through the uncivilised male character, who is eating peanut butter out of the jar with his hangs, echoes the prevailing ideology that Muslims are de-civilised in comparison to the west. In particular, the female Muslims, demonstrated through the lead role of the character Yasmin, are seen as rebellious, parallel to the the males who are shown as conformers to their religion (displayed through the boy starting his day by practising his religion). However, it is fair to say that the presentation challenges Said's domain theory of "them and us", through the scene capturing the white male and Muslim women, working together and helping the special needs children. 

3) Finally, choose THREE clips for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. 

Fanon - "Putting on a white mask", Decivilise, Essentialise (they all look the same)

Luther, 2015 - The protagonist embodies stereotypical white male characteristics and rejects the dominant ideologies associated with his social group, such as being tribal (in terms of his more middle class accent that is presented through the dialogue). In particular, his attire is formal and he is portrayed as a leading figure who is in charge of other white characters. 

Adulthood, 2008 - The behaviour illustrated through the black characters reflects decivilised and criminal acts that are reinforce Fanon's theory. For instance, through the medium long shots capturing the protagonist wearing a hoodie and grabbing a bat to attack another character. Also, in terms of 'essentialise', the high angle long shot capturing the black youth at a "rave", reflects Fanon's idea that they all "look the same".

'I am what I am' Reebok Advertisement - The advertisement capturing black rapper 50 cent reinforces ideologies in regards to the decivilised and 'criminal' aspects of Fanon's theory through the background on the right mirroring imagery associated with prisons (e.g. the finger prints). 

Alvarado - "Dangerous, Pity, Humorous and Exotic"

Cool Runnings, 1993 - The trailer captures the non-diagetic narration of a white male, outlining the comical narrative of Jamacian's entering a sport "they know nothing about", parallel to the imagery of medium long shots of the black characters falling over and being made a mockery of. This relates to Alvarado's theory of 'Humorous' and 'Exotic', through the strong native accents that the black characters have, alongside the different things that they say. 

Gone Too Far!, 2014 - The trailer presents the strong accents that the African mother and brother have, through the diagetic dialogue. In addition to this, the medium close up of the mothers sandels and costume reflect her native and 'exotic' origin. 

South Africa, 2013- Starting from 3:00 minutes, the white males are presented as superior to the weak and lower class black children, who joyfully reach up to high five the white males, illustrated in the hand held medium long shot. This relates to Alvarado's theory of 'pity' through the unfortunate objectification placed upon the black children. 

Said - "Them and Us", "East and West"

Bend it Like Beckham, 2002- The narrative shows the strong ideologies associated in Asian culture and presents their domain stereotypes, such as women cooking and serving for men. This contrapuntal to the more liberal attitudes that the white characters have, displaying, in terms of Said, "them and us". 

East is East, 1999- Despite the male and female parents being binary opposite in terms of white and Asian, and their overall nuclear family being more liberal. There still remains a "them and us" illustration in regards to the vertically extended family types who enter the story. 

Eastenders - The Asian family the "Masoods", captured a strong sense of "them and us", when entering the 'square', as they were the only Asians presented. Their family not only portrayed dominant ideologies that Asian's have and their attitudes, but also in terms of costume, visually differed to the rest.