1. British Asians in Cinema Aims: to explore the history and issues around Asian representations in UK film.

2. Recap What were some of the traditional Indo-Asian stereotypes we discussed earlier: Hard working and studious Business minded Strong sense of family- close knit Good at Maths (and cricket) Money/status orientated Religious/moral Arranged marriages Passive (except for terrorists) It could be said that British Asians are under-represented in other areas of the media notably, film and music. What were some of the reasons for this?

3. ….some history One of the criteria of the Media and Collective Identity unit is to ‘explore how contemporary representations compare to previous time periods’ British Asian representations in the media have until recently been quite stereotyped, focussing on Asian culture ‘from the outside looking in’. Asian characters on TV were in the 1960s and 70s often played by white actors who ‘browned up’. Look at the documentary ‘A Brimful Of Asia’ which looks at the history of Asian representation on TV. Make some notes.

4. Bhaji on the Beach Read BFI plot synopsis (and annotate): –What is the story about? –How are Asian women treated/represented in the film?

5. Bhaji on the Beach (1993) Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend it like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice) Screenplay by Meera Syal (Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No.42) Reflected the early 90s Asian experience. It looked at how ‘second generation’ Asians, born in this country dealt with cultural integration and being a ‘British – Asian’. A diverse group of British women of South Asian descent go on a day trip to the beach in Blackpool. Despite their differences—the older women are more traditional and conservative, the younger women more Westernized— they eventually manage to see common ground.

6. ‘Bhaji on the Beach’ (1992) (off to Blackpool) http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/442547/index.html Make notes on the representation of: –Hasinda –Oliver –Asian women on the bus – old and young

7. Historical film examples. Task: watch these clips from the following film: ‘’My Beautiful Launderette’ (1984) (eviction) http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/443819/ind ex.htmlhttp://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/443819/ind ex.html ‘My Beautiful Launderette’ portrayed the lives of Asian immigrants to Britain in the 80s and their attempts to open businesses and prosper in Thatcher’s Briatin. Make some notes on the sheet provided.