What art movement or art genre, type, style or sub-culture
has influenced or changed the way you view a culture other than you own? How
and why?
My understanding of colonialism has advanced from my recent
viewings of post-colonial films set in Africa.
European countries such as, France, Britain and Germany,
amongst many others have attempted to colonise African settlements. It is
through films like Xala, that African
countries bewilderment can be recognised.
European empires have forced their cultures, politics and
economies onto independent countries in an effort to expand their nation states
and gain natural resources from these lands.
The confusion of African culture is brought to the fore
through the method of film. Post-colonial films highlight the muddled
lifestyles of these countries. Whilst watching the subtitled films I have
noticed an inconsistency of language, a switching between the native tongue of
the country and French.
Alongside a confusion of language comes a confusion of economies.
Xala follows an
upper-class African family that is struggling with the forthcoming marriage of
their father/husband who undergoing his third marriage. He is a polygamous man
with three wives, which is considered a normalcy for some African
cultures.
French and German cars such as Renault and Mercedes are
driven to and from the wedding. Coco Cola is offered to the two original wives
and they accept this beverage in French, “oui”.
This mix-up of cultures is an obvious detriment to the
traditional African family. The African community obviously struggles with its
sense of self and understanding of their own ethnicity.
It is through post-colonial film that I have gained a new
perception on colonialism. I admit that I was never that knowledgeable on such
African cultures before, however the complexity of these cultures has furthered
my knowledge on colonialism.
Colonialism has left countries unsure, insecure and confused
about their own cultures, languages and religions. Post-colonialism indicates
the gradual acceptance of these, now, complex societies, and their now unstable
idea of nationality and race.
I found this post interesting to read. I hadn't thought too much about the way that film represents cultures and reflects so strongly on real aspects of a nation. I liked the way that you referred specifically to aspects of the film that stood out to you; things such as coca cola in amongst a continent of strong tradition and culture does seem out of place!
ReplyDeleteOne point I would like to make though is your reference to "Africa" throughout your entire piece. Xala is about Senegal, which is only one country within a continent of many nations, and although many African countries are very similar, each has its own aspects of their own cultures and have developed differently. Referring more specifically to Senegal at some points rather than just Africa could have created some more specific points in the piece.
All in all though, I found this piece to be concise, informative and interesting and it raised some good points about the way that these cultures have changed :)
Hi India,
ReplyDeleteYou made some very strong statements on colonialism, national identity and culture. While I have yet to see the film you have mentioned, I do however have first accounts of colonialism in Vietnam (where my parents are from). The French colonised Vietnam under ‘French Indochina’ for more than six decades, and today there are still traces of the French although Vietnam is now an independent nation. While I definitely agree that colonialism was a means to gain cheap labour and resources, there are also positive effects. For example, French colonialism greatly assisted in the reform of education in Vietnam. Therefore I think culture can be an evolving ideology that takes in the history affecting a nation. But I can understand your point of losing the ‘traditional’ aspects of culture – an issue more prominent as we merge with globalisation.