1) 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?
I think that in many respects the representation of British Muslims in this film is positive. I find this especially evident in the scene when Yasmin and her male friend are helping the disabled young people into the bus. One of the general views of Muslims held by society is that they are a danger to humanity and that they are probably terrorists. Therefore to feature a scene that depicts a Muslim women opposing this ideological view, it positively represents British Muslims as being helpful, compassionate and community minded. We also see her integrating with western society e.g. going to a pub with her white male friend despite the possible reactions, representing Muslims as friendly and approachable, traits that aren't societally associated with Muslims in the media. Another positive representation of British Muslims is when the young boy at the beginning of the clip starts the call to prayer in the Mosque, which is amplified throughout the streets of the Yorkshire town he lives in. This shows he is embracing his religion and sharing it with his wider community, giving them the choice to respond, contrasting strongly with the shared idea that Muslims try and force their beliefs on others.
However, I think there are also some negative representations of Muslims.
Despite Yasmin's attempt at integrating herself into her community, this could carry some negative connotations. Some could see it as appropriating western culture or perhaps discarding her own Islamic culture for the sake of fitting in. This is first suggested when she
2) Summarise the three theorists we have looked at this week: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.
Alvarado states that in the media there are four key themes in racial representations that can often be applied to the black community but also to other non-white groups. These themes are: Exotic e.g. they are often models or music artists and their food is unusual/foreign, Dangerous e.g. they are often involved in crime, gangs and are socially dysfunctional, Humorous e.g. they are often associated with being comedians, quirky or 'the sidekick', & Pitied e.g. they are usually susceptible to poverty.
Fanon states that non-white people habitually "put on the white mask" which essentially means that they appropriate western/white culture in order to fit in with that society. He believes that black stereotypes are able to infantilize, primitivize, decivilize and essentialize.
Edward Said talks about Orientalism in that the west – particularly colonising Europe – constructed a meaning of the east (e.g. The Middle East) that suggested it was different, dangerous and uncivilised, therefore the west view themselves as superior and the east as 'the other'.
3) Finally, choose ONE clip for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick your clips from YouTube but feel free to use TV, film, music video or advertising - whatever you think is most powerful and relevant. Embed the clips in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need THREE clips in total on this blogpost.
I think that in many respects the representation of British Muslims in this film is positive. I find this especially evident in the scene when Yasmin and her male friend are helping the disabled young people into the bus. One of the general views of Muslims held by society is that they are a danger to humanity and that they are probably terrorists. Therefore to feature a scene that depicts a Muslim women opposing this ideological view, it positively represents British Muslims as being helpful, compassionate and community minded. We also see her integrating with western society e.g. going to a pub with her white male friend despite the possible reactions, representing Muslims as friendly and approachable, traits that aren't societally associated with Muslims in the media. Another positive representation of British Muslims is when the young boy at the beginning of the clip starts the call to prayer in the Mosque, which is amplified throughout the streets of the Yorkshire town he lives in. This shows he is embracing his religion and sharing it with his wider community, giving them the choice to respond, contrasting strongly with the shared idea that Muslims try and force their beliefs on others.
However, I think there are also some negative representations of Muslims.
Despite Yasmin's attempt at integrating herself into her community, this could carry some negative connotations. Some could see it as appropriating western culture or perhaps discarding her own Islamic culture for the sake of fitting in. This is first suggested when she
2) Summarise the three theorists we have looked at this week: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.
Alvarado states that in the media there are four key themes in racial representations that can often be applied to the black community but also to other non-white groups. These themes are: Exotic e.g. they are often models or music artists and their food is unusual/foreign, Dangerous e.g. they are often involved in crime, gangs and are socially dysfunctional, Humorous e.g. they are often associated with being comedians, quirky or 'the sidekick', & Pitied e.g. they are usually susceptible to poverty.
Fanon states that non-white people habitually "put on the white mask" which essentially means that they appropriate western/white culture in order to fit in with that society. He believes that black stereotypes are able to infantilize, primitivize, decivilize and essentialize.
Edward Said talks about Orientalism in that the west – particularly colonising Europe – constructed a meaning of the east (e.g. The Middle East) that suggested it was different, dangerous and uncivilised, therefore the west view themselves as superior and the east as 'the other'.
3) Finally, choose ONE clip for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick your clips from YouTube but feel free to use TV, film, music video or advertising - whatever you think is most powerful and relevant. Embed the clips in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need THREE clips in total on this blogpost.
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