Cpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com



February 5th 2020MINUTESDiaspora Screen Media NetworkSymposium, University of Northampton: ‘The Impact of Social Media on Consumption Patterns of Diasporic Cinema’Present: IntroductionsPI : Prof Janet Wilson; English literature and postcolonial/diaspora studies: from NZ, writes on white settler diaspora writers, visual culture, visibility of minority ethnic culture (Maori/ Black British, British Asian) and impact on mainstream in NZ & UKCo-I : Prof Rajinder Dudrah; Black British and British Asian media representations, Bollywood cinema, popular music, diasporic and transnational media, television studies and creative industries Research Coordinator: Dr David Simmons; senior lecturer in Film and Screen Studies, UN. transmedia story telling, video on demand, diversity in representation, takeover by NetflixWebsite maintenance: Meriem Lamara, Postdoctoral student , UNBarry Hale, Director Threshold Studios, Nton: not-for-profit organisation, social change and creative media, Frequency Festival: digital culture. links with Venezuela, Cuba as well as LincolnVictoria Hinds: Actress and Presenter, Admires Victoria Wood show, concerned mixed race and identity struggle it posesSharik Raja – 2nd year media student BCU. DSMN Steering Committee [SC] memberTre Ventour: UN student runs Black History month; DSMN SC memberKeisha Bruce: PhD student U of Nottingham, Black women’s digital visual culture; how communities constructed and policed online; millennial black feminism and pop cultureRaveeta Banger, Postgrad blogger, U Birmingham, blogs re social issues and lack of representation, race, caste system in diaspora, intergenerational issues, film and mediaAmy Smart: Flat pack Film, Film programmer, mixed arts, film feature shows, Film Hub Midlands, UK Film exhibitions, (multiplex & student societies); diversity programmes, choice of independent film South Asian/ black, Organisations in Midlands, sustainable for festivals, pop events, audiences; theatrical and non-theatrical events. DSMN SC memberNina Edge: Artist and writer: Ceramic Design, Cardiff. Black Film video workshop, Welsh Rural Gloucestershire in isolated 1970s with no ethnic representation on TV & radio, Visual culture , reframing of diversity from positions of right and far right; reframing of Britishness re Brexit; makes little filmsPatricia Frances: Part time PhD Nottingham Trent U, on gender race, women’s activism, silencing and voice, Film essay; works TV/Broadcast. Freelance on politics programmes; concerned withunder-representationJames West: Lecturer, Black press/diaspora; black British and US history in print media; 1970s black US cinema archive; exploits themes e.g. Live and Let DieShania Jaywardena: 2nd year student, U Warwick, interested in Sri Lanka documentary, Sri Lanka and nature as more relevantIan Sergeant : Formerly Cinema Producer, Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham, now Phd Student BCU. Research title: Visual Representations and Cultural (Re)constructions of Black British Masculine Identities in 21st Century Birmingham DSMN SC MemberKuldip Powar, Nottingham. Free lance film director(profiles read out of members overseas: Nubeel Zuberi, U of Auckland and Rahul Gairola, Murdoch University – available on website under Members) Opening Event:Provocation papers & discussion: Wilson: ‘Digital Diaspora Audiences’, Dudrah: ‘Issues of Production and Consumption’, Simmons: ‘Streaming Diversity’,Sergeant: ‘The Diaspora Screen Media Network: What Now?’. Afternoon Sessions:Group Workshop NotesThe session produced some fruitful and interesting debate.Initially, related to Ian Sergeant’s provocation “What Now?” the discussion was about the depiction of young black men within contemporary media – whether there had been much change in such representations in the last 10-20 years and the tendency of marketing concerns to override issues of authenticity.Of the four films suggested by the SC for viewing prior to the day’s events, those in the group felt that these films seemed dated in some senses, eg ‘Jemima and Johnny’ , however, at least participant felt that while aesthetics and style might seem slightly antiquated in some of the films, the views expressed/explored within the films were still relevant. Of the Stuart Hall voice you could say there has been no change since thenThis lead to a discussion of whether newer delivery platforms (such as VOD) offered more choice. The question was asked does this mean more progressive, i.e. is it more choice or question of quality. Is it good because it is more? Paradox of choice- so much choice how to find quality.While some participants felt that the representations on such services had brought about a greater level of diversity, the belief that the use of algorithms and other similar back end software were having a pernicious affect on viewing habits was raised. SC member Amy Smart suggested that it was often the case that while more material (and therefore greater diversity) was available, it was often only certain material that was promoted and/or filtering processes meant that it was more difficult to find truly different material. David Simmons explained that by diversity he meant content not faces- outside is Top Boy- representation of masculinity.Patricia Francis - asked for some explanation of the project and what the intended outputs for the network might be. D. Simmons – 3 events and website as repositoryParticipant Kuldip Powar suggested that politics and the broader cultural and social context were still important when discussing media and representation. Kuldip believed that the topicality of gangs and gang violence are often a focus for representation. The Islamic agenda: South Asians promotions; Muslim figuresThis suggestion lead to a broader conversation about prevailing agendas concerning representations of race on screen, which mean that currently there is an absence of Hindu and Sikh voices. It was also noted that this often means that funding is only available for certain types of representation (Muslims, terrorists, gangs). Man Like MobeenPeople in control /hierarchies (Post Bafta Awards) See Stephen McQueen in Guardian, on agendas; people in control tell you what to make – decision makes on ‘whiteness’- a lot of compromises Netflix: when they see us coverage, ‘Black’ is what’s in. Patricia : there is a responsibility for everyone to do what they with uniqueness and flairParticipant Raveeta Banger spoke about her own experiences as a British Asian/Person of Colour blogging - approached by BBC radio network – only want to talk about certain ‘controversial’ issues: “should Muslims have dogs??” i.e. how do different religions perceive the keeping of pets and this then leads to “Are animals taboo in Asian society”? This group discussion ended with a consideration of the ‘burden of representation’. Patricia Francis discussed the difficulty faced by people of colour, that one media text cannot hope to represent ‘everyone’While many in the group felt that not enough progress had been made in terms of empowering people of colour both in front of, and behind, the camera, the group did acknowledge some interesting contemporary work, often in the ‘mainstream’. Among the examples mentioned were Films, Blinded by the Light, Yesterday, David Copperfield; Black Panther and Jordan Peele; Ackeley Bridge, and the Netflix series Sex Education. David Copperfield, colour blind casting, bleach out cultural specificity (David Simmons) Lack of representation a complaint- minority want control; Blue Story, can target specific audience – but if story to tell then questions of representation dont help cause- still have to fit an agenda. Diversity in Netflix- black community represents everyone. Eg Crazy Rich Asians- limited representationBlack Panther 2018 game changer a wake-up call to Hollywood; Though some of the group worried about the homogenisation of cultural specificity evident in a show like Sex Education, participant Raveeta Banger noted that the British Asians she had spoken to/heard from viewed it very favourably and recognised the ‘innovative’ nature of the representation it offers. Participant Sharik Raja finished this part of the discussion by suggesting that Master of None might stand as one of very few examples that manage to both offer a nuanced depiction of a person of colour while also doing something progressive in terms of innovative representation. Ackeley Bridge- Asian Household names- fusion of English, Hindu, Urdu, iconic Bollywood trasnsnational, cf BollywoodGenres cf themes: The session ended by a brief discussion, initiated by Kuldip Powar, of the importance of comedy (exemplified by figures such as Gurinder Chadha) in creating non-threatening material for non-British Asian audiences. Playing it safe allows play with difficult taboo issues- chief problematic. Kuldip also raised the question of authenticity of language- attempts to reproduce Hindi -- e.g. token gesture as in Slumdog Millionaire, Mel Gibson Person of Christ- target audience, foreign when authentic, Parasite: in main category, thriller, Hollywood dominatesLarge Platforms: Netflix, does it have authentic content for diverse audiences ??? Niche Platforms wont have the same reach. Netflix not as progressive as looks. All Americans, no one way to be black Have to be US BlackQuestions/statements include what constitutes a black film? Is it casting, crew, writer, audience etc.?Social media has the ability to contradict/portray alternative stories or images (i.e. Black twitter)Social media useful in finding localised interest groupsThere is also the monetarisation of (sub)culturesIn respect of online films authenticity of languages raised concern as foreign language films i.e. not English, are located in sub categoriesThere was also concern or perception that the South Asian films genre -- i.e. Bollywood-- is regarded as non- threateningFeedback Session NotesInfluencers chasing hits through controversial contentAuthenticity- e.g. Beyonce plundering cultures, can say it’s a celebration a form of popularisation, Daughters of the Dust; can be positive if it signposts you back. Hybridised genres: e.g. hiphop, Crazy Rich Asians (rom com), Jordan Peel (African American director), feature film animation, Ante Bellum. Hybridised identities work in particular genres, popular on You Tube, made transition possible and social media helped. Difficulty in getting authentic voice in South Asian representation, where everything seems to be taboo. Black British/British Asian, content makers needed, collective work needed- themes of suicide marital rape, race, caste and classAs an important aside to the network’s focus on representation on screen media, advertising (on social media, on TV/mainstream media) was discussed as often perpetuating stereotypes. The role of advertising and the demands of advertisers were debated as perhaps playing the most important role in terms of defining what content and representations we get.On a more positive note it was suggested that group pressure can have an effect in terms of changing and improving representation for the better.SC member Tre Ventour noted the significance of Black British actors having to go to the U.S. to get recognition before returning to the U.K.Final Discussion/RoundtableThis final session of day was intended to reflect upon the day’s discussions and feed forward into the upcoming network events.Among the key conclusions wereThe often-unacknowledged focus when discussing Diaspora on men and male stories (eg in Windrush focus recently) and conversely there was a desire expressed to ensure that the next symposium would contain at least one session devoted to exploring the importance of gender (and sexuality) in discussions around race. The possibility of foregrounding issues of gender and sexuality (LGBTQ identity) in relation to Diaspora Screen Media texts was also discussed. Need voices on You Tube haven’t heard of. Consider behind the scenes in media, need for greater diversity, content led by white peopleIt was agreed that participants: Nina Edge, Raveeta Banger, Victoria Hinds and Keisha Bruce would be helped to design and lead a session on female (and LGBTQ) experience at the next symposium. It was agreed by all participants that the format of the first symposium worked well. The emphasis upon workshops (rather than more ‘academic’ lectures or papers) was viewed favourably and participants expressed a desire for this to be the case at the next network event too. Next Symposium:Topic: ‘Social networks and New Media’- i.e. new media formats of postcolonial/diasporic screen media texts; using new media for empowerment (e.g. telling ancestral stories, intergenerational aspect; languages patois and other kinds)Opening/keynote session on women and LGBTQ and screen media: e.g. black nurses who saved the NHS; women in different roles; Anglia News Archive (MACE)Ideas for sessions/topics for discussionCross-generational voices/relationships? Older people – use of social media, moment of contact soon to be lost.Languages as an important part of representation in diaspora screen media. How dismantle language of oppressor in new and meaningful termsOther ways to describe the self than ethnic? – e.g using language of oppressor, can shift; eg Gurinder Chadha asks people where they are fromSession on Decolonising the new media- is it colonising via black/brown on twitter/ internet?Does diaspora have to be reconstructed as a term in the digital space? E.g. can change with country- Dutch, French black, European black carnivalNotion of British identity?? Relevance of Brexit and the fragmenting of British identity even further. Engagement with some of the terminology around BAME, black/white Rhodes (must fall), hyphenated identitiesHow particular social groups form in response to particular TV shows/filmsN.B. It was agreed that an interim meeting would be organised between SC members Amy Smart, Rajinder Dudrah, Janet Wilson, David Simmons and Barry Hale to discuss the idea of a popup event (possibly to follow on from the final 2021 network conference).PLANNINGWebsite ContentReviews 300-500 words blogs, Data gathering, networkingExhibition- moving mini-exhibitionE-archive of living black British/British Asian film Festivals materialPosters, ticket stubs, tabs hyperlinksKuldip Powar, offered to contact Nirmal Puwar GoldsmithsThe Ritz Cinema- commentary on audience, Herbert Art Gallery [ Cultures of Viewing]Repository space document social historyResources needed for filmography and bibliographyCaptions on photosKey films through decadesPhotography- how connects with diaspora, what is screen media? InstagramKey terms- add to list and define screen mediaImages from Kuldip’s and Nina’s work, link to people like Steve McQueenWomen & LGBTQ and Screen MediaMidlands Arts Centre, texts that broaden representation, networking event, pre-existing networks, social media platform, pop-up Festival,Schedule 1 April 2020: 3rd Steering Committee meeting30 June 2020, 2nd symposium BCU [POSTPONED]1 September 2020: 4th SC meeting1 Feb 2021, 2 day symposium, BCU [? TO BE POSTPONED] ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download