RACISM OR USE OF COLOR IN POPULAR MEDIA
Prepaid By : Kinnari Halvadiya
Semester : 3 Paper – 11 POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE
Batch : 2019 – 2021
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH MKBU
FRANTZ FANON
His Journey on Earth 1925-1991 French philosopher Indian psychiatrist He was political Radical, pan – Africanist and Marxist Humanist Fanon's contributions to the history of ideas are manifold. He is influential not only because of the originality of his thought but also because of the astuteness of his criticisms.He developed a profound social existential analysis of anti-Black racism, which led him to identify conditions of skewed rationality and reason in contemporary discourses on the human being.
MEANING OF RACISM
separate and exclusive biological entities called “races”; that there is a causal link between inherited physical traits and traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural and behavioral features; and that some races are innately superior to others. The term is also applied to political, economic, or legal institutions and systems that engage in or perpetuate discrimination on the basis of race or otherwise reinforce racial inequalities in wealth and income, education, health care, civil rights, and other areas.
❖Such institutional, structural, or systemic racism became a particular focus of scholarly investigation in the 1980s with the emergence of critical race theory, an offshoot of the critical legal studies movement. Since the late 20th century the notion of biological race has been recognized as a cultural invention, entirely without scientific basis.
RACISM IN BOLLYWOOD MOVIES
Bollywood, the multi-billion industry that our country depends on for entertainment, has never exactly been a flagbearer of social justice. Sure, there have been films which started important conversations about the ills of the society, but an average, mainstream Bollywood film is more likely to peddle problematic stereotypes than question the status quo. Bollywood films have been called out for objectifying women, crass portrayal of queer people, being tone deaf to the intricacies of caste and class. And then there is racism. Sexism, classism and colorism in Bollywood films have been much discussed, but there is one folly of our society and the films we make, that does not get the heat it deserves— Racism. Casual racism is common in Bollywood films. Any person who does not fit into the mainstream “Indian” narrative is reduced to a stereotype that is used as a punching bag for ridiculous gags. Be it the “Madarasi” with the heavily accented Hindi, or the Nepalese person who is seldom given a role other than a “Bahadur” watchman. Here are 5 times Bollywood proved that it has a race problem:
Freida Pinto Hollywood actress, Freida Pinto, was once a rejected actress in Bollywood. She was at the receiving end of racial remarks during her modelling days. The Slumdog Millionaire star revealed that she was a rejected actress in Bollywood, because she wasn't fair and didn't look Indian enough. But she got a compliment in Los Angeles that she has the most beautiful caramel-chocolate skin. The actress has often accused Bollywood of being fascinated with white-skinned actors and has openly expressed her disgust about the auditioning process for films in India, as reported by The Independent. Sonam Kapoor is not just the queen of fashion in Bollywood but is equally fierce and fearless when it comes to voicing her opinion. According to a PTI report, while speaking at an event, Sonam revealed that she herself has faced racism in many countries. She said, “They see brown skin and they judge you already. When I go abroad people already have their perception, like we are always in parda or our parents are very conservative.” The talented and versatile actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, also faced racism during the early days of his Bollywood career. Because of his dark complexion, he always got short and small roles in films like Sarfarosh, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and New York. In an interview with Bloomberg TV India show, The Date, Nawaz revealed that he was rejected by the producers and directors for many TV shows because they were glossy and Nawazuddin did not fit in those kind of roles due to his dark complexion. The talented actor has now made his own place in Bollywood with a National Award in his kitty. Super sexy Jism girl, Bipasha Basu, is among the hottest Bollywood babes but allegedly was once called 'Kali Billi' by Kareena Kapoor due to her dusky complexion. The comment raked up a huge controversy with Bipasha refusing to make any comments on the same. When Bipasha was a kid, she was allegedly known as the Lady Goonda in her school because of her dusky colur and short height, as confessed by her in an interview to Business of Cinema. Bipasha now has a very successful career in the film industry with a Filmfare Award in her kitty. Most recently, Ranveer Singh appeared shades darker than what he is in real life to represent an up and coming rapper from a Mumbai slum in Zoya Akhtar's "Gully Boy". In an interview, Zoya defended Ranveer's tan saying that's how the actor looked as he had come from a tropical vacation. Then there is "Udta Punjab", which had Alia playing a Bihari labourer working in the fields of Punjab. The filmmakers used the old ruse and darkened her skin tone in a bid to make her look the part. As a mirror of society, and therefore the racism that underscores it, mainstream Hindi cinema has done this often. In many cases, a dark skin tone is not just taken to depict the working or the lower classes but also as the antithesis of the good, fair and handsome protagonist. In the award winning "Fashion", Priyanka Chopra plays a high-strung supermodel who is unable to cope with the rigours of fame and becomes an alcohol and a drug addict. But the turning point for her comes only when she wakes up to find herself next to a black man. It's only then that she realises the horror that her life has become. Parallel cinema, too, surrendered to this fair-dark stereotype with greats like Shabana Azmi and the late Smita Patil, both dusky, being considered most suitable for characters in films on rural and urban angst of the working classes. "Stereotypes regarding class and caste which have been popularised through ads, TV and cinema, and about fairness being about success... most people do not find this offensive as there is no widespread condemnation in public discourse," Srivastava said. There are many exceptions, of course, In "Pad Man", for instance, a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganatham, a social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who introduced low cost sanitary pads, Akshay Kumar plays the title role with no artifice. He is as he is.
Hrithik Roshan's yet-to-be-released "Super 30" has walked right into Bollywood's age-old debate on racism and classcaste stereotypes with the fair-skinned actor transitioning to tones of brown, apparently in keeping with his declaim role as a grassroots teacher from Bihar. The conflict is back with "Super 30", a biopic on Anand Kumar, a mathematics teacher from Bihar who opened a coaching institute to help underprivileged students prepare for competitive exams. The film has been in the news for all the wrong reasons but what has upset people from the state the most is Hrithik's fake accent and his 'brown face' because that's how Bollywood thinks people from Bihar look.
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RACISN IN DAIY SOAPS
Real life for Parul Chauhan one of the lead actors of Sapna babul Ka-Bidaai is quite similar to her reel life. Having faced very 'racist' comments on her dark complexion from her grandmother while growing up, Parul was an unhappy child. As a kid Parul faced colour issues all the time. She says, "When I was born my grandmother remarked that I was very dark. And till my seventh standard she kept commenting on my complexion. But after that everything was fine. She realised that I was as good as any fair girl. She is no more but I am sure if she was alive she would have been very happy with the work I am doing. I think that is one reason why I can relate to Ragini (her character in Bidaai)." Saloni struggles to cope with the harshness of society as they condemn her for being dark-skinned. However, she soon decides to stand up against the discrimination and establish a unique identity.
RACISM IN GUJRATI AND BOLLYWOOD SONGS
➢ ગોરી રાધા નેકાળો કાન
➢ કાનડુ ો છેકાળો કાળો, રાધા છેગોરી ગોરી
➢ गोरी हैकलाइयाां
➢ गोरेगोरेमुखडेपेकाला काला चश्मा
➢ मेनूकाला चश्मा जचदा ऐ जचदा ए गोरेमुखडेपे
➢ चचचियाां कलाइयाां रे, oh Baby मेरी white कलाइया
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIONS?
Facts
• certain Limitations
• Mental Statements
• No Binaries
• Desire is Common
• Superior / Inferior
• Thinking /Mentality / Psychology
• Blackness
• Society or Culture Conclusion
• All these problems of Racial Determination are Mental Constrictions.
• Humanism Is important rather then skin color.
• If Your skin color is white and you make Difference between Black And white that is your heart is black.
• FANON SAYS ,
• “ OH MY BODY ALWAYS MAKE ME A MAN WORK QUESTION!
WORK CITATION
❑ Frantz Fanon. (2020, November 21). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frantz_Fanon
❑ Racism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/racism
❑ Littlewood, R. (2018, January 02). Frantz Fanon's Black Skin, White Masks – reflection: The British Journal of Psychiatry. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journalof-psychiatry/article/frantz-fanons-black-skin-white-masksreflection/FDEEC4D2B5A843EA886DE1506C6A8582
❑ Bollywood celebs who faced racism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/p hoto-features/bollywood-celebs-who-facedracism/photostory/50149069.cms
❑ India, P. (2019, June 08). Racism in cinema: Bollywood mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.business-standard.com/article/ptistories/racism-in-cinema-bollywood-mirror-on-the-wall-who-sthe-fairest-of-them-all-119060800265_1.html
❑ The shameful history of racism in Bollywood. (2020, June 25). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.easterneye.biz/the-shameful-history-of-racism-inbollywood/
❑ GOOGLE IMAGES
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