Paul Gilroy - blog tasks

 

Paul Gilroy - blog tasks

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or you can access it online here using your Greenford Google login.

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

Historically constructed, formed by colonialism, slavery, nationalist philosophy and consumer capitalism. 


2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?

Race is not the cause, but is the product of racism. Racism is not a natural phenomenom. Natural race used as a way to legitimise oppression and slavery.


3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?

Line of thinking where we see humans as different ethnic groups, with a basis of human differentiation. He is against this as it is a counter to his argument that racism causes race.


4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

Dispersion. Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible and cannot be rewound to a state of cultural purity.

5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?

At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation.” As such, to accept the role of slavery into the cultural identities of Britain would be to challenge the negative stereotype of black Britons at the time, and reverse the “external and estranged” relationship with the nation.

6) Gilroy argues diaspora challenges national ideologies. What are some of the negative effects of this?

Negative experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create an identity which is then shared within the diasporic community and perhaps from the origin country.

7) Complete the first activity on page 3: How might diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity? E.g. digital media - offer specific examples.

Diasporic communities use media to stay connected through social platforms like Twitter and Instagram, sharing language, music, and traditions. For example the BBC World Service links global audiences via  broadcasting in different languages such as Persian and Urdu.


8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?

Gilroy sees slavery as key to diasporic identity, as it created new cultural identities and permanently changed connection to Africa. Also, it shaped capatilism via exploitation.

9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?

Media often reinforces double consciousness by showing black people through stereotypes and labels like criminals, rappers, athletes. This makes them view themselves through society's biased lens and creates a self fulfilling prophecy.


10) Finally, complete the second activity on page 3: Watch the trailer for Hidden Figures and discuss how the film attempts to challenge ‘double consciousness’ and the stereotypical representation of black American women.

Hidden figures challenges double consciousness showing black women as intelligent and important. Rejects stereotypes ad celebriates black profesional and historical achievments.

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