Does the
British media reflect the modern, multicultural nature of British society?
Refer to a variety of media texts and theories in your response?
Media texts
consist of 3 main platforms. Print media for example magazines and newspaper,
E-media for example social networking and websites, and lastly moving image for
example music video or film etc. To some extent we can agree that after the
Olympics the British media is trying to portray the “modern, multicultural
nature” of British society. But then again arguably we can talk about how
British movies and TV programs are highly stereotyped and tend to consist of
white male protagonists and black or other ethnic groups as token characters.
We can agree
at some point that the British media is reflecting modern, multicultural nature
of British society. Such as the new comedy show on BBC, “Citizen Khan” which is
based around a Pakistani family in Birmingham. This is a great example to show
that the British media is reflecting modern, multicultural nature, as usually
we tend to see British television for positive representations a white middle
class nuclear family, and for a more negative representation an ethnic
background family, single parent families or working class families. However
with Citizen Khan we can say they are actually embracing multicultural nature
of British society as the main protagonist is a Pakistani man, with a nuclear
family having typical Pakistani Asian values, which shows the sense of
multicultural as also in the show there a white man named “Dave” who is
actually the supporting actor rather than the main protagonist. But for the
show there can be oppositional and preferred reading, as a preferred reading
could be how BBC ( British public broadcaster) has made a show on an ethnic minority
family and with the stereotypes in the news of Islam being negative with the
whole “terrorist tag”, it is nice to see a more humorous and normal side to
Islam. Furthermore we can say that how Fanon talks about ethnic minorities
putting the white mask on we can see Dave the white character is putting the
Asian/Islamic mask on as he is a converted Muslim which shows he is trying to
be more like the Asian characters. However a oppositional reading could be that
the Asian characters are highly stereotypes and the gender roles are
traditional, such as the stereotype of Asians loving cricket such as an episode
as to where Mr khan goes to great extents of evening interrupting a memorial
service in his house to just watch cricket. Furthermore the traditional gender
roles such as the house wife and the husband being the breadwinner. Also
relating it to Alvarado’s theory of racial representation as there is a sense
of “exotic” to them as due to their life style and behaviours. Which shows that
even though the British media is embracing multiculturalism it still is
broadcasting them in a very stereotypical way.
Another
example of British Media embracing British society’s modern and multicultural
values is, the opening ceremony of the Olympics. As the Olympic ceremony
celebrated different cultures and values and most importantly celebrated
Britishness. As the best example is when we see the middle class families
daughter is going out to party. Where the part which shows the sense of
multiculturalism is how we see a white mother and black father in a middle
class household showing how in British media we see the stereotype of black
single parent families and white middle class families, where here they
countertype and have a white and black
nuclear family in a middle class lifestyle. Furthermore this can relate
to uses and gratifications as how some mixed race families will be able to
identify with the life style and in psychographics self-actualisers as the
footage really emphasis family values, where people who really see families and
relationships important might be able to relate to this the most. Furthermore
in the performance we see how multiculturalism is celebrated by music as how
different culture of music is bought together and people celebrate for example
the Indian music, current music etc. Which shows how everyone has come together
to celebrate. However there can be oppositional views to the footage as
arguably we can say the mixed race kids are putting a “white mask on” fanon
theory, as relating it to THESP and post-colonial many African countries were
under the British empire, which can show that instead of celebrating their own
culture they are celebrating British culture and values as the music is all to
do with Britain and its past. Showing
that British media is celebrating multiculturalism only to show a subliminal
message of how British values are dominating other cultures and that even
though there is multiculturalism it is only just amplifying British values and
thoughts.
Lastly there
are examples that show British media doesn’t show the multiculturalism of
British society, could be movies such as “four lions”. As even though the movie
was a comedy and showed a humorous side of Islam, the films main narrative was
about how these 4 British born Muslims want to place a bomb somewhere which
shows even though it is a comedy, it is reflecting how different the culture
between Islam and white British people are. Such as Said’s theory as to how the
east is seen as dangerous and different as for example a scene as to when the 4
main guys are running with the bombs one of the guys comes across his white
friend who is exercise and as the white man sees the guys running in an odd way
he is slightly confused, which shows even though it’s in a comic way they are seen
as different. Furthermore it shows how each culture has built their own group
within society and don’t like to mix with each other, for example how all the
guys are Muslims and build their own group and can say isolate themselves from
others. Not really reflecting the multiculturalism we have in society, how
cultures live together and interact with each other.
In conclusion
I do believe to some extent that the British media does portray the
multiculturalism of society. However the thing is it depends on which area the
show/story/film is based on for example London is more of a cosmopolitan
multicultural place so it would be slightly odd if the movie/show setting is in
London and we don’t see other ethnicities or cultures. But however if we go
more up north the areas are more white dominated so it would make sense if we
don’t have as many ethnic background characters. Lastly as showing a accurate
representation of the area and character is important due to uses and
gratification theory as audiences will be able to relate to the characters and
society.
