Chenelle Seck Sociology of Colonialism Professor Ravi Palat 17 November 2016 Colonialism in Film and Literature Colonialism is one country’s control over another. It involves leaders who are in power and the masses who are powerless and oppressed. Many countries around the world have been colonized, exploited, and oppressed by European countries for various reasons, including the European powers’ need to civilize and assimilate societies that were different from their own. The topic of colonization is presented in scholarly work, books, art, and movies. Two movies that demonstrate European colonization are Tjoet Nja’ Dhien, an Indonesian film and Camp de Thiaroye, a Senegalese war film. Both these films depict the struggle between the colonizers and the oppressed. Themes portrayed in the movies are women’s roles, the Islamic faith, and modernity in Tjoet Nja’ Dhien and racial identity, inequality, and cultural oppression in Camp de Thiaroye. Two works of literature that support the themes in these movies are Child of All Nations and God’s Bits of Wood. Tjoet Nja’ Dhien is a 1988 Indonesian film about a woman who led the Acehnese army against the Dutch after the death of her husband. The movie began with the attempt of the Dutch to colonize Indonesia and the start of the war between them. After the death of the war leader, Umer, leadership was taken over by his wife, Tjoet Nja’ Dhien. In the movie, she was wise and persistent in her fight against Dutch colonization
During the course of this essay it is my intention to discuss the differences between Classical Hollywood and post-Classical Hollywood. Although these terms refer to theoretical movements of which they are not definitive it is my goal to show that they are applicable in a broad way to a cinema tradition that dominated Hollywood production between 1916 and 1960 and which also pervaded Western Mainstream Cinema (Classical Hollywood or Classic Narrative Cinema) and to the movement and changes that came about following this time period (Post-Classical or New Hollywood). I intend to do this by first analysing and defining aspects of Classical Hollywood and having done that,
During the period of Colonialism, the English settlers arrived in America from Europe looking for religious freedom, land and the opportunity for wealth. While the Spanish Settlers arrived at Hispaniola unexpectedly, like the English; however, the Spanish did not leave Europe because of religion persecution; rather, they wanted to expand their religious belief to the New Word. While in both the English and the Spanish colonization, the Indigenous people were oppressed and enslaved but the English took a different approach. Thereby, although both the English and the European colonized in order to obtain gold and silver to help their countries wealth, the Spanish explorers took a more forceful method of gaining land.
Even though a vast majority of us wish that it was possible to turn back the hands of time and change or rewrite history. However, the truth of the matter is that we simply cannot. Everything happens for a reason, and we should learn to accept it. Accept it for what it is, rather than what we would like it to be.
The study of British colonialism is a rather new field with much to discuss and a lot more to debate. The recent recognition of new nation-states that were once under the control of Britain was a growing phenomenon and one that continues to play a large role in today’s global politics. Since the rather recent period of these new nations, new study’s have been done into the history of a) the peoples that inhabited the land before Britain, b) the way Britain occupied and control and land, and now c) post-Britain. This is a growing topic in the historical field because seventy-five years ago there was no thought that Britain would relieve control of India or Nigeria. That is why post-British colonialism is important to today, because it is a
Colonialism is relatively a practice of supremacy and domination. This cultural manipulation is said in part to mirror imperialism. As discussed in class, colonialism is the consequence of imperialism, rather than the underlining theory. In the film “Even the Rain,” the topics of post-colonialism and colonialism are witnessed and explored. The film parallels many concepts by switching between the past and the present to illustrate the stark difference of the times. In public opinion, portrayed in social media and movies worldwide it is seen that the United States, and the Westernized world is the modern, secular time while the “others” are traditional, following religion and cultural practices; for these places to become modern they will
The six texts that I have chosen for this anthology link to colonisation and show how race and power can take shape in different forms. When thinking of race and power in relation to colonialism, the obvious form it takes is the white European power of the colonisers over the non-white natives of the lands that are being colonised.
Europe is the home of many nations. It is also the home of philosophical, political and cultural movements. Mainly because of its advantage of having a western civilization before anyone else is currently named as the "Old Continent" (Lewis and Wigen, 1997, p.29). The fact that there is a considerate amount of movements of all classes in Europe created many borders and national sentiments. Although in recent times and culturally speaking, and in film specifically, there is a defined map that splits the industry in two: Hollywood, which is popular entertainment, the "norm" or the "classic", and Europe, which is art; this is seen in the study of film as a cultural phenomenon, film theory, where the studies are well-stablished in Britain and the
While both films, Battle of Algiers (Igor Film, 1966) and Culloden (BBC, 1964) explore themes of European Colonialism and the resistance to end it, the films address these issues using differing methodologies. The purpose of my paper will be to discuss these similarities and differences to provide the reader with an understanding of the various approaches the directors have taken in portraying similar themes.
Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad and “Apocalypse Now”, a movie directed by Francis Coppola represent two outstanding examples that compare relevant ideas regarding racism, colonialism, and prejudices. The two combine film along with descriptive language to portray their mastery during different eras. For Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses his writing techniques to illustrate Marlow in the Congo, while in “Apocalypse Now”, Coppola uses film editing and close ups on important scenes with unique sounds to identify Willards’ quest for Kurtz. Both portray the idea of colonization in foreign lands that otherwise may have been uninhabited by their own people if left alone.
In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the imperialism of Africa is described. Conrad tells the story of the cruel treatment of the natives and of the imperialism of the Congo region through the perspective of the main character, Marlow. Throughout the novel, Marlow describes how the Europeans continuously bestow poor treatment to the native people by enslaving them in their own territory. Analyzing the story with the New Criticism lens, it is evident that Conrad incorporates numerous literary devices in Heart of Darkness, including similes, imagery, personification, and antitheses to describe and exemplify the main idea of cruel imperialism in Africa discussed throughout the novella.
Through the African films, Camp de Thiaroye and Le Grand Blanc de Lambarene there are new views and topics that arise, which are not emphasized in the usual representations of African colonial experiences. Usually there is a Western, impersonal side of the history, which is not examined further and widely accepted. Through the films of African filmmakers, people are able to encounter the unmentioned perspectives and perceptions of historical events that affected the Africans substantially.
As cultural identity being questioned in global screen due to the influences of transnational cinema and Diasporas in different places, this clip question further the possibilities in future transnational cinema. Through the emergence of cinema styles, all films are to be considered transnational. This essay will argue that transnational cinema could be emerging to a new level in the film industry. The clip provided with the essay explores the potential of transnational films with the context of films studied included in this subject.
The desire to conquer land that was previously unexplored has existed throughout history. This desire forced many indigenous societies, who were usually dominated technologically, to adapt to the teachings and overall system of the ‘superior’ conqueror nation with destruction as the only alternative. This causes a major impact on how a certain society functions, even after seeking independence from the foreigners. The rise and fall of indigenous societies can be analyzed through various media. Chinua Achebe is a novelist specializing in African literature, and this essay deals with the themes regarding colonialism in one of his many novels. In
Imperialism has been noted to be practice of foreign rule in a context of hierarchy and subordination, which can eventually lead to the formation of an empire. Imperialism refers directly to the enhancement of power and military superiority.
Imperialism and its oppressive processes have affected societies as well as individual lives for centuries. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, oppression through imperialism demonstrates how a certain civilization, the Congolese, is affected negatively by imperialism. By focusing on Africa, it allows for a graphic recount of the many years spent reigned by foreign oppressors and tyrannies. In Heart of Darkness, the Congo is oppressed by the imperialists economically and geographically. As well, the oppressed people are taken advantage of spiritually. Conrad describes how the ruling tyrant is affected by the process of conquering a local people and this draws a parallel to the ruling empire. Conrad, through his novel, attempts to