post-colonialism: bonus and reading blog tasks

Post-colonialism: bonus and reading blog tasks

MM58: Social Media and Black Identity

1.) 3 theorists discussed in the article are:

• Aisha Harris
• Giddens
• Henry Jenkins

2.) Social media can have a positive impact on black identity in the sense that it brings light to the issues and situations revolved around it, therefore makes it not go unnoticed. However, it can also be negative because it may attract a lot of negative attention from conflicting ideas from those foreign to black identities. As a result of all this, #BlackLivesMatter was derived for example. 

3.) We could apply Alvarado's presentation of the racial stereotypes that consist of the categories: Pitied, Humorous, Dangerous, and Exotic, as for example we could categorize a black male to be dangerous as they stereotypically have connotations of gangs.

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1.) According to the article, there are negative representations being created about refugees, such as a "dangerous and threatening mass". They're also being generalized and essentialized a lot (Frantz Fanon), as stated by the article because they're seen to be a "nameless mass of refugees". 

2.) I would think that a documentary genre would be less biased as it is a presentation of realism, therefore there is no subjectivity that twists stories and meanings of a situation, and is instead presenting what is purely happening. News media on the other hand would perhaps alter and change stories to support their own agenda in order to manipulate the audience mass.

3.) As Alvarado states, there are key themes in the representations of the black community, however obviously it can be applied to those other than said:

 Exotic (models; music artists; food)

Dangerous (crime; gangs; socially dysfunctional)

Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)

Pitied (poverty)

In this case, refugees can be pitied as they're seen helpless in their situation, maybe dangerous too if seen from a xenophobic perspective where illegal immigrants are seen to be threats in the sense that they "come into our country and take our jobs" kind of perspective.