Introduction to Postcolonialism: blog tasks

1) Look at the first page. What is colonialism - also known as cultural imperialism? 

The belief that native people were intellectually inferior, and that white colonisers had a moral right to subjugate the local populace as they were "civilising" them, trying to make them more like Western European society.

2) Now look at the second page. What is postcolonialism? 

Refers less to a time period and more to critiquing of a school of thought that came before it. 

3) How does Paul Gilroy suggest postcolonialism influences British culture?

He suggests that because Britain had not fully accepted its history as a colonial power and had not fully come to terms with not being the world's dominant nation, there remained a desire to oppress people of other races, especially immigrants.

4) What is 'othering'?

Is the phenomenon where we identify something as being different from, or alien to our social identity.

5) What examples of 'othering' are provided by the article?

In order to further his Brexit campaign, Nigel Farage purposefully fueled fears around immigration.

6) What is 'double consciousness'? 

when people find it difficult to balance their dual identities or nationalities.

7) What are 'racial hierarchies'?

The idea that some races are superior to other ones.

8) What examples from recent media products challenge the idea of racial hierarchies?

Brooklyn Nine Nine's Moo Moo episode where Lt. Terry Jeffords is racially profiled by another cop.