Identities: Post-colonial theory & blog tasks

Identities: Post-colonial theory & blog tasks

1) Read the excellent article exploring the different representations of black people in British film and TV from Media Magazine 42 (MM42 fromour Media Magazine archive - page 51)

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

FILMS:

Anuva hood

Attack the block

Kidulthood

Brotherhood

Ill manors 

TV PROGRAMMES:

Top Boy

55 Degrees North

Luther

Line of Duty

Citizen Khan

ONLINE ONLY PRODUCTIONS:

Brothers with no Game

Venus vs. Mars

The Ryan sisters

All about the McKenzies

Meet the Adebanjos

3) Watch Destiny Ekaragha's clips above (more of her work is available onher 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 most evident of Alvardos theory which can be applied to 'Tight jeans' is the pitied concept as the location for the film is set around an estate and other low-income housing which suggests these people arent well off and creates the sense of poverty which people tend to pity. Moreover, alvarados theory also includes 'exotic' which refers to the Nigerian culture reflected by some of the characters in the film ( gone too far) including 'Ikudayisi and his mother, this is done by their colourful choice of clothing, the language they speak including their accents but also things like the food they go and retrieve from the shops which is Nigerian reinforces Alvarados theory of 'exoticness' here. This also links to Fanon's theory of their exoticness being primitivised as this reinforces the stereotypes of Nigerian people. Furthermore, another part of Alvarados theory, 'dangerous can be applied to the teenagers/youths in tight jeans who wear hoddies and tracksuits and hand-out in large groups, this is more of a negative stereotype as infers all youths are dangerous. Subsequently, gone too far especially makes humourous references about the characters 'exoticness' which is viewed in a more positive way.