Representation of Ethnicity

L.O: To research texts dealing with the issue of ethnicity and to comment on how they have been represented in the media.

If you have trouble with the links below then find alternative clips of the same text.

Key words: Stereotypes, cliché. Representation.

ETHNICITY ON TV

            

Martha From Dr Who

     The representation of people from different ethnicities has changed massively over the years.  This is probably because the population in Britain has become much more diverse recently and current society is much more used to mixing with people from all different cultures and backgrounds. 

      Here are some examples of very negative generic stereotypes that used to be seen (and in some case still are) in film and tv:

·      White people – often shown as good, pure, heroes, strong, or sometimes racist.

Michael Caine

·      Black people – often shown as exotic, strange, tribal, criminal, poor.

City of God

·      Asian people (Chinese, Korean etc) – often shown mainly as intelligent, submissive (quiet and shy), 'nerdy', interested in technology. Very under-represented.

Hikaru Sulu (Star Trek)

·      Indian people – often shown as being poor, living in large families, very traditional, working in corner  shops

Sikhs

·      Middle Eastern people (arabs etc) – often shown as being terrorists, violent, aggressive, rich

Islamaphobia

·      Immigrants – often shown as being a drain on society, criminals, illegal, bad for Britain, taking British   jobs.

      In TV drama, people from particular ethnicities often have storylines that are centred around their culture.  For example, Indian characters often battle with the clash between British culture and their traditional culture eg: arranged marriages etc. They rarely have storylines that don’t have something to do with their ethnicity.  People also have commented that often people from minority ethnic groups (eg non white) are often portrayed in a very negative way.

    You should consider the following points when watching the clips below:

•        Can I identify what ethnicities the characters/people are? How?
•       Are people from different ethnic backgrounds shown as having different interests, personalities,  attitudes or behaviours? If so, how?
•       Is their ethnicity represented as being the most important thing in their life?
•       Are people from particular ethnicities portrayed as being better, more powerful, than others?
•       Are people from particular ethnicities portrayed as being abnormal /weaker/ more pathetic than  others? 
•      How do other characters in the clip treat the characters from different ethnic backgrounds?
•      What is the message the clip is trying to portray about ethnicity?   

Task 1: Watch the two clips below and write about how people/characters with different ethnicity have been represented. Use the bullet points above but also ask if the stereotypes are positive or negative. Do the characters challenge or conform?

    Eastenders: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y094LCAUMTo 

    Spooks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjwvCoiKZ-8

Task 2:
Analyse the clip from Hotel Babylon and consider the points below the link.

    Hotel Babylon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VG5GJQjyGo

•    How are the illegal immigrants represented in the extract?
•    How are the Police represented in the extract?
•    Who are the audience encouraged to empathise with?  

Ben from Hotel Babylon