Theorising Media Assignment
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Added on 2020-04-29
Theorising Media Assignment
Added on 2020-04-29
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Running Head: THEORISING MEDIATheorising Media: PostcolonialismName of the StudentName of the University
1THEORISING MEDIAIntroductionPostcolonialism is defined as the theory that mainly based on the effects and legacy ofimperialism and colonialism on a particular region or country. This theory mainly explains theconsequences on the religion and culture of the native people who were exploited by the colonialrulers during the imperial and colonial period. During the period of 13th to 15th century, manyEuropean nations started expeditions around the world for establishment of colonies in variousregions (James 2013). These European nations included the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch,Germans, Belgians and most notably the French and the English. The Portuguese people mainlycolonized in South America, the Spanish in Africa and Central America, the Dutch in SouthernAfrica and Eastern Asia, the French in various parts of Africa and India and the British indifferent parts of the world including North America, Australia, India, South East Asia andothers. While some of the colonies were short lived, many stayed for two or more centuries.Throughout this period, the imperialist forces tortured and exploited the natives and aboriginalsfor extracting money, resources and other riches from the colonies to fill the treasuries of theirown countries (Frew 2014). This period also brought about massive changes in culture, religionand other practices of the natives. Although the colonial rules have been withdrawn most parts ofthe world a long time ago, the exploitations of natives in different countries still continues toexist even today.This essay has been prepared for analyzing A. B. Original’s song January 26 and anewspaper story from The Daily Telegraph and finding the hidden messages regardingpostcolonialism.
2THEORISING MEDIAPostcolonialism in Australia: Analysis of a Song and a News StoryJanuary 26 by A. B. Originals – January 26 is a song by Australian Hip Hop duo A. B.Originals and the name of the song refers to the 26th January that is mainly known as AustraliaDay. Australia Day is celebrated on the day the first British fleet reached Port Jackson ofAustralia in 1788. This day also marks the beginning of the colonial rule in Australia. Since thisday celebrates the start of colonial rule in Australia, most of the natives and aboriginals of thecountry have time and again conduct protests against the celebration of this particular day. Sincethe start of the colonial rule in Australia, more and more British people came and settled inAustralia uprooting the natives from their homes and exploiting them as slaves (Lousley 2013).Throughout the colonial period, the colonial people gradually settled and spread their bloodlinesin Australia. Nowadays, these people are mistaken as native Australians although their ancestorscame from England and other imperialist countries whereas the native indigenous people ofAustralia are mainly the Torres Strait Islands and other tribes that existed in Australia from muchlonger before the first colonial invasion in 1788. The hip hop duo A. B. Originals have broughtup this issue and expressed the aboriginals’ frustration on the celebration of Australia Day onJanuary 26 in this particular song (Young 2016). In this first part of the song, the lyrics are –“You can call it what you want; But it just don't mean a thing; No, it just don't mean a thing;Fuck that, homie; You can come and wave your flag; But it don't mean a thing to me; No, it justdon't mean a thing; Fuck that, homie”. In the first line, the singers speak for the natives that thecolonial people can celebrate the day as Australia Day but it does not mean anything to them.Here, ‘you’ refers to the colonial natives who have settled in Australia through severalgenerations since 1788 and ‘it’ refers to Australia Day i.e. January 26. While it is celebrated bythe colonial settlers as their first arrival date in Australia, the aboriginal natives consider the date
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