Paul Gilroy - blog task
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
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
--> Gilroy argues that racial identities are historically constructed. Furthermore, he says that it is formed by colonisation, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism. Gilroy quotes "Race is not the eternal cause of racism but it complex, unstable product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race nor racism are exclusive historical property of the minorities who are their primary victims"
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
--> Gilroy says that racism is not caused by the clash of two or more races and is not a natural phenomenon. Gilroy claims that racial identities are a product of racial oppression. Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have bought different groups into opposition. That is not to say that there are no human differences before historical conflict between different groups. He claims different groups exist but there differences are not defined by race.
3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?
--> Ethnic absolutism is a line of thinking which see humans are part of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy is opposed to ethnic absolutism as it is counter to his arguments that racism causes race.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
--> For Gilroy, The Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. It cannot be 'rewound' to a state of cultural purity and cannot return to Africa as the place of origin has changed- the place of origin doesnt exist as it did before diaspora.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
--> The dominant representation of Black Britons was as "external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation." 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?
-->Gilroy argue that diaspora challenges national ideologies and a cultural tension occurs. The tension between national ideology and diaspora identity. 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.
-->Information online regarding traditions their ancestors had.
Social media by connecting those with the same background as them.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
--> Gilroy argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism. The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. Slavery was only rejected when it was revealed as incompatible with enlightened rationality and capitalist production.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
--> The dominant representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness of the black male, that he is not anything more then what he sees in the media. The dominant representations of black males is either a rapper, criminal or gang member or and athlete.Double Consciousness provides more way of understanding of the world.
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 attempts to challenge the idea of double consciousness through the protagonist of the film. The protagonist is an intelligent, black mathematician who works for NASA during a period where woman were looked down upon and treated in a very traditional way.
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
--> Gilroy argues that racial identities are historically constructed. Furthermore, he says that it is formed by colonisation, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism. Gilroy quotes "Race is not the eternal cause of racism but it complex, unstable product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race nor racism are exclusive historical property of the minorities who are their primary victims"
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
--> Gilroy says that racism is not caused by the clash of two or more races and is not a natural phenomenon. Gilroy claims that racial identities are a product of racial oppression. Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have bought different groups into opposition. That is not to say that there are no human differences before historical conflict between different groups. He claims different groups exist but there differences are not defined by race.
3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?
--> Ethnic absolutism is a line of thinking which see humans are part of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy is opposed to ethnic absolutism as it is counter to his arguments that racism causes race.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
--> For Gilroy, The Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. It cannot be 'rewound' to a state of cultural purity and cannot return to Africa as the place of origin has changed- the place of origin doesnt exist as it did before diaspora.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
--> The dominant representation of Black Britons was as "external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation." 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?
-->Gilroy argue that diaspora challenges national ideologies and a cultural tension occurs. The tension between national ideology and diaspora identity. 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.
-->Information online regarding traditions their ancestors had.
Social media by connecting those with the same background as them.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
--> Gilroy argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism. The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. Slavery was only rejected when it was revealed as incompatible with enlightened rationality and capitalist production.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
--> The dominant representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness of the black male, that he is not anything more then what he sees in the media. The dominant representations of black males is either a rapper, criminal or gang member or and athlete.Double Consciousness provides more way of understanding of the world.
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 attempts to challenge the idea of double consciousness through the protagonist of the film. The protagonist is an intelligent, black mathematician who works for NASA during a period where woman were looked down upon and treated in a very traditional way.
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