Gilroys Theory

Paul Gilroy's Representation theory is the idea that colonialism from the 1500s-1900s still exists/is present in the media. People from ethnic minorities being dehumanised and the idea of "other". Other meaning seen as abnormal and strange by the majority.

Definition from OCR:

- The African diaspora caused by the Slave trade has now constructed a transatlantic culture that is simultaneously African, American, Caribbean and British - the 'Black Atlantic'.

- Britain has failed to mourn its loss of empire, creating 'postcolonial melancholia', an attachment to an airbrushed version of British colonial history, which expresses itself in criminalising immigrants and an 'us and them' approach to the world founded on the belief in the inherent superiority of white western civilisation.


Applying the Theory to News and LFTVD:

News - In both Tabloids and Broadsheets ethnicity is commonly portrayed in a different way to how current society expectations/judgements would prefer, however opposing colonialism eras, the current way these ethnic minorities are portrayed is now more relevant to the nationality and political ideologies of the subject rather than their skin colour.
Due to the content that newspapers are producing being overseen by mostly older white males, culture and ethnic origin is still partially portrayed using post colonial stereotypes within the stories and the entire paper itself - allowing Gilroy's theory to be successfully applied.


LFTVD - Both Stranger Things and Deutschland 83 contain examples of ethnic diversity, however the two shows feature a heavy cast of white actors doubting the idea that the show is racially diverse. This is most likely due to the way in which the narrative in the shows due to the current era that the stories are set in with large numbers of ethnic inequality happening in the 1980's.
ST character Lucas is one of the only representations of how ST is racially diverse - linking to Gilroy's theory, as Lucas is a part of the group of young teenagers that act differently within the setting. Lucas, who is black, is addressed by the name 'Midnight' by bullies at the school. This is discriminating and makes him feel like a minority which links to Gilroy's theory. However, the other 3 boys in his friendship group are also attacked verbally and physically, providing an idea of cross discrimination throughout the narrative.
In D83, American General Jackson is the only true ethnic representation the audience are shown. Due to Jackson's powerful status in the army and the story, Gilroy's theory doesn't really fit here than in ST - however the verisimilitude of this situation is accurate as Germany in the 1980s was lacking in ethnic diversity.