Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

Social Media and Black Identity

1) List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

• Henry Jenkins- believes that social media is an arena where participatory cultures can be seen.
• Aisha Harris- believes that social media is the creation of presenting black community negatively.
• Giddens- believes the opposite for what Harris is arguing; whereby black people can be presented positively with the use of social media. 

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity? 

I believe that there is an even split down both parts of the spectrum. On one hand, we have automated algorithms that simply portray black people negatively for example, typing criminals in to Google, and images of black people appear. It is the use of non-human systems that does stupid things which can harm a communities portrayal. On the other hand, social media allows people to take control in the ways in which they want to present themselves, and don't need the negative stereotypes to invade their lives. It allows the control and power to be in the users hands, and therefore, showing a much mire positive and accurate portrayal rather than the outside world, with all its stereotypes. 

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

Alverado: the factor of 'dangerous' is what really stands out out of the other factors of Alverado. This is because social media can be responsible for presenting black people as 'criminals', as discussed with a case study above. As well as, the power stereotypes will always try and intrude people's privacy and social life, even on social media. 

Fanon- the belief of 'putting on the white mask' is something that is blatantly happening all over social media. If you can't look white in person, you can do it on social media. This is because the user can change the way other viewer see themselves, and by presenting them as a white person, people may accept them more than what they were before. People having to change their real world in to a virtual world shows how powerful such representations are.  

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1) What examples of different representations of refugees in the media are offered in the article?

• Refugees have been given the title, "migrants" which in turn gives connotations that these people are travelling by their own choice, making it more of an issue in the readers eyes. Essentially, the news institution has taken advantage of the growing fear of migrants and such titles will instigate the matter further.
• The many use of the word 'many', but used in different synonyms such as 'horde', or 'swarm' shows how its giving off a sense of invasion across the world; like an outbreak.

2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

The documentary is less biased in my opinion than compared to news media. This is because, a range of facts and research is presented before the viewer when viewing documentaries, keeping them informed always. The idea of having moving text, makes the information much more realistic as opposed to a text. There is more viewer interaction as communication. Moreover, documentaries often (or, always do) have interviews from people from that region and is pure information as opposed to a text interview, as it can be worded in a certain way to trigger a certain way of thinking. 

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?

Alverado- the factor of 'pitied' is very much linked to the refugees as we, the helpers, are there to feel sympathy for those who aren't in the same place as us, and to do something about it.

Fanon- the factor of 'essentialize' is something that really taps in to this idea of the outside world (predominately the west) of having the view of the east being 'the same' and always in need. They can't tell the difference between those in need and those that are not. Places such as Dubai, and Afghanistan may seem to be the same in the eyes of the western world.