COLLECTIVE INDENTITY

To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?

-          Media is becoming an increasingly powerful means through which our understanding of human identity is developed and mediated over time. This is becoming dangerous because we can come to accept representations as true as second hand, not first hand. These representations, if they were not true beforehand, become self-fulfilling and real because the media makes them appear as real. I am going to explore British Asian representation as a powerful example of how human identity is mediated, focusing on Yasmin and the effects of 9/11”. Representations of British-Asians in mainstream media have helped to construct negative stereotypes – terrorists, status obsessed, religiously fanatic etc. The film ‘Yasmin’ does demonstrate cultural authenticity, but to fit in Asians often, have to position themselves away from their culture – like Yasmin in the film – where she is seen changing into normal clothing instead of her headdress as she goes to work with non- religious people.  This is to avoid any conflict from the workplace as she wants to fit in, and indeed likes one of her male workers and wants to make an impression on him. However, on returning home, she gets dressed into her headdress and religious clothing to return to her family who are extremely religious. When the event of 9/11” occurs and Muslim terrorist organisation ‘Al Qaeda’ crashed planes into the twin towers, we see how human identity is increasingly mediated as all Muslims are stereotyped, and we see this in Yasmin, when Yasmin receives notes on her locker saying ‘Yas loves Osama’. We also see another Muslim woman circled by children on bikes after the event as they chant ‘Get back to your own country’ before she is forced to the ground.