Representation of culture/ethnicity.

Learning Objective: Build notes on

representations of Ethnicity

Ethnicity• Discuss these questions with your partner:

• What is meant by ethnicity? • What is the difference between nationality and

ethnicity?• What is your ethnicity?• Are people within the same ethnic group the

same in all ways? Are their different “types”?

• Ethnicity- A cultural distinctiveness based on a number of factors.

How is Ethnicity formed?• What contributes to a person’s ethnicity? A combination

of factors:

• Colour of skin?• Religion• Nationality• Language• Cultural specifics- food, clothing, customs.

• Ethnicity is a complex issue – it involves more than just place of birth or colour of skin

• What are the main ethnic groups within London?

• Newham has more than 150 languages spoken in it. However language is just one way to breakdown culture as many languages are spoken within one country or culture.

Ethnicity and the media

‘Ethnic Niche markets’:

What is it?The media providing for a specific ‘niche’ market based onethnicity.

• Look at this example:

• OBE TV - YOUR CHANNEL OF CHOICE

• Can you list some other media products/channels that are specifically targeting their audience based on ethnicity.

• How ethnically diverse is the mainstream British media? • Example: 1Xtra is the BBCs attempt at targeting a smaller niche market or is it?

The ‘Apu’ issue

• The character of Apu in the Simpsons divides opinion particularly amongst the Asian community.

• Watch this clip and then discuss his representation as an Asian character.

• ‘The Simpsons’ gets a way with it because it’s an animation and it uses exaggerated stereotypes to create humour (Chief Wiggum and the police, Krusty and Jewish). However the issue is whether non-Asian audiences are laughing at the character's ‘Asianess’ or at the ‘clever’ use of stereotyping?

Asians in the media

• The Asian community in the UK are well represented on television, particularly in broadcast news media.

Rajesh Mirchendani

George Alagiah

Martin Bashir Riz Lateef

Krishnan Gurumurthy

Other Asians in the Media

• Can you name any other Asians in the media.

•What reasons can you give for there being fewer ‘Asian popstars’or actors?

Asians in the media continued.

• It could be said that Asians are under-represented in other areas of the media notably, film and music.

• Discuss: • What films can you name that feature Asian

characters.

• How many UK Asian musical artists can you name?

Asian stereotyping

• What are some of common Asian stereotypes?

• Hard working and studious• Business minded• Strong sense of family- close knit• Good at Maths (and cricket)• Money/status orientated• Religious/moral• Arranged marriages• Passive (except for terrorists)

• Discuss: can you name some media examples where these stereotypes are evident?

How much do we know about Indo-Asian culture?

• In the UK we define anyone from what is known as the ‘Indian sub-continent’ as being Asian. In the US, Asians are those from oriental Asia (China, Japan, Korea etc).

• What nations make up the Indian sub-continent?• India • Pakistan( which was part of India until 1948)• Sri Lanka• Bangladesh.

• Discuss: How could you tell the difference between people of these nations?

• Language• Physical difference• Clothing• Food• Religion

Indian sub-continent quiz

• In which country is Karachi?• What religion is this a symbol of?

• Which country used to be known as Ceylon?• In which country is the cricketer Sachin Tendulkar from?• Which UK city has the highest concentration of UK Asians?• In which country do they speak Punjabi ?• From which country are most of the UK owners of Indian restaurants

from?• What is a samosa?• What meat are Muslims forbidden to eat?• In Indian weddings what is the dowry?

…answers

• Pakistan• Hindu• Sri Lanka• India• Leicester• India• Bangladesh• A pastry with a veg or meat filling• Pork• Money given to the bride’s family from the groom’s

family.