British Asians in Film

1. British Asians in Film Aim: to explore contemporary notions of British Asian identity through specific case studies.

2. Contemporary British Asian Cinema • How many Asian orientated films can you name? • Although Asians are well represented in some areas of the media such as journalism they haven’t been as well represented in the film industry until recently. • Read article ‘Brit-Asian cinema from the margins to the mainstream’

3. Case Study 1: ‘Bend it Like Beckham’(2002) • ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ starred Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. The film was directed by Gurinder Chadha a female British Asian director. • It proved to be a very successful film that raised the twin issues of ethnic and gender stereotyping. Read over article. • From an ethnicity perspective the film attempted to address the issue of a young Sikh girl living in London and her attempts to subvert her ‘cultural norms’ by becoming a professional footballer like her idol David Beckham. Task: watch some clips and make notes on the notetaking sheet.

4. Case Study 2: ‘Yasmin’ (2004) • Set in Yorkshire, Yasmin lives two lives in two different worlds: in her community, she wears Muslim clothes, cooks for her father and brother and has the traditional behaviour of a Muslim woman. • Further, she has a non-consumed marriage with the illegal immigrant Faysal to facilitate the British stamp in his passport, and then divorce him. • In her job, she changes her clothes and dresses like a Westerner, is considered a standard employee and has a good white British friend who likes her. • After the September 11th attacks the prejudice in her job and the treatment of common people makes her take sides and change her life.

5. Yasmin and mise-en-scene • Yasmin’s mise-en-scene is a significant factor in understanding her as a character. What examples can you think of? • Her transformation from traditional hijab wearing Muslim to jeans and high heel wearing western girl. • The convertible car is a another symbol of western freedom. • The smoking is an acceptable form of rebellion. • The claustrophobic living environment of her street. An insular northern Muslim town, no integration, breading racial ignorance ‘slags…. Smelly Paki’. • Her use of make –up to make her self ‘available’ when she goes to the pub.

6. Yasmin characterisation • Yasmin has confused identity- her life is a balancing act, a juxtaposition between traditional Muslim values and modern British western life. • She is feisty and rebellious and subverts expectations. • Unlike East is East she stands up to her father. • However she still performs traditional Muslim female duties such as cooking for the men. • She is also ‘married’, although this is a marriage of convenience so that Faysal can get a UK passport. • She is very much a cultural hybrid in her attitudes, dress and use of language. However she is confused and identifies those born in Pakistan as ‘pakis’. • She has feelings for a white co-worker. He doesn’t initially consider her ethnicity. • Her life and attitudes to Islam changes after 9/11.

7. Yasmin- cultural affinities change. • Her life and attitudes to Islam changes after 9/11. How and why? • She gains sympathy for innocent Muslims who are being persecuted, particularly Faysal. • She encounters obvious racism at work. • Her friend, Dan questions her loyalties. • She herself is put in a cell for no obvious reason. She begins to reread the Quran. • Is she any less confused about who she is at the end of the film?

8. Yasmin- Muslims post 9/11 • What does the film suggest about attitudes to Islam after 9/11? • Demonisation: All Muslims were instantly a threat to those with ignorant views.. ‘Who’s Osama?’ • Western paranoia: Greater police presence in Muslim areas in UK, false accusations and imprisonments like Faysal in film, ‘they’ll throw us out of the country now’. Extremists made life very difficult for peaceable, ordinary Muslims. ‘I’m ashamed’ father when he hears son celebrate 9/11. • Islamophobia: The US ‘war on terror’ led to a fear of Muslims. Yasmin is ostracised from her white co-workers, including her good friend Dan who changes his opinion of her after 9/11 ‘ Muslims haven’t done themselves any favours, haven’t’ apologised’… • Radicalisation: lots of impressionable, disillusioned young Muslim boys born and brought up in this country have been influenced by educated Muslim preachers to become ‘martyrs‘, the idea of dying for Islam. Fighting in ‘jihad’ a supposed holy war between Islam and the west. Naz is an example of this ‘ they’re killing our brothers and sisters’….’I’m a freedom fighter, there's a war against us’.

9. Yasmin - Analysis • Using the worksheet watch the clip from Yasmin. • Focus on the representation of Yasmin, what is her demographic? • Culturally how does her character relate to stereotypes of Muslim women? • How much could she be said to British and how much would you describe her as Pakistani? • What effect might her representation have on: • Muslim viewers • Non Muslim viewers