Post-Colonialism Theory (Gilroy)

Question 1

What is the homogenisation of ‘others’?

Answer 1

How western cultures view others as being one homogenous group.
Terms like ‘third world’ contribute to this.

Question 2

What is ‘inherent correctness of Western cultures’?

Answer 2

Western values are how society should function, others are disapproved of.

Question 3

What is ‘the exoticisation of non-Western culture’? (orientalism)

Answer 3

The way non-western cultures are perceived as exoctic & their differences are romanticised.

Question 4

What is ‘the myth of white man’s burden’?

Answer 4

The idea that as a western culture, we owe it to non-western cultures to help them, modernise them & introduce western standards to them.

Question 5

What is the double consciousness, according to Paul Gilroy?

Answer 5

Internal conflict experienced by subordinated groups in an oppressive society.

Question 6

What is diaspora, according to Paul Gilroy?

Answer 6

A community of people that migrated from their homeland.

Question 7

What is liquidity of culture, according to Paul Gilroy?

Answer 7

Black identity is formed by journeys across seas, not the solid ground of a home country of culture.

Question 8

What created race according to Paul Gilroy?

Answer 8

Racism

Question 9

What aren’t diaspora’s limited to?

Answer 9

Cultural contexts, creating a liquidity of culture.

Question 10

What is ‘Black Atlantic Diaspora’?

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Answer 10

Transatlantic diasporic identity.
Black identities are a product of movement, not just origin.
Can’t be reversed & you can’t ‘go back to where you came from’.

Question 11

What does Gilroy believe about representations in the media?

Answer 11

The media will offer a range of representations that are often limited.

Question 12

What is the dominant representation of a black male in the media?

What do these representations serve to reinforce?

Answer 12

It is either a rapper, criminal or athlete.

The double consciousness of the black male - he is not anything more than what is shown in the media.

Question 13

What does Paul Gilroy believe created race?

Answer 13

Racism

Question 14

What has had a huge cultural influence on modern America/Britain, according to Paul Gilroy?

Answer 14

The slave trade

Question 15

What does Gilroy believe is impossible to reverse?

Why?

Answer 15

Identity - there can be no return to the place of origin as the experience of slavery/displacement can never be ‘rewound’?

Question 16

What are 2 examples of context behind racial tension in the UK?

Answer 16

The Windrush Generation

The Political Unrest of the 1980s (Brixton Riots)

Question 17

What does Gilroy argue the media offers in terms of race?

How does this relate to Black Americans in the US?

Answer 17

A range of representations for various groups - some are more limited than others.

Their dominant representation is either a criminal, athlete or rapper.

Question 18

According to Gilroy, what do representations of black men in the media serve to reinforce?

Answer 18

Their double consciousness as they believe they aren’t anymore than what they see in the media.