Analyse the representations of multicultural Britain in "East is East" and "Bend it like Beckham".
Analyse the representations of multicultural Britain
in “East is East” and “Bend it like Beckham”
Culture is the religion and traditions that a person is brought up believing in. Social issues are things such as: class, age, gender representations and sexuality-both films are constructed so the audience will be enlightened by the issues raised, in both films. The issues created cause the messages and values.
The two films that I am going to interpret are "East is East" and "Bend it like Beckham" These are media constructs with messages and values that we have to look for such as the social and cultural issues raised.
Although both Asian families cope with living in a multi-cultural Britain, my opinion is that the family in "Bend it like Beckham" integrated to Britain far better than the family in "East is East." This is because of the era they were set in. "Bend it like Beckham" is different from "East is East" mainly as "East is East" is set in 1970's and "Bend it like Beckham" is set in 2001. In both films they have traditions, there are more in "East is East" such as, boys being circumcised, men being in charge of the household " I know what is best for you all. In "Bend it like Beckham" Asians must marry other Asians, they have adapted more than the Kahn's in "East is East."
In "East is East" there is a lot of prejudice against the Kahn family. When Tariq goes to a club with Abdul, he is allowed in but Abdul is questioned just because of the colour of his skin and that he isn't wearing the "cool" clothes. The audience empathize with Abdul as he was conscious of going anyway .The messages being sent to the audience is that in 1971 people weren't allowed in clubs because of their race/Also the old white man who lives across the street has banners and posters against Asians. This is to enlighten the viewers that people are racist and are not bothered about how the Asians will feel. In "Bend it like Beckham" there is prejudice hen Jess is talking to her coach about football and he says "I didn't know Indians played football" this makes Jess feel humiliated about the colour of her skin, consequently the audience empathise with Jess and become angry with the coach. The messages portrayed are that Indian women aren't meant to play football. Jess got upset when somebody on the pitch was being racist "She called me a Paki, but I guess you wouldn't understand what that feels like." Also there is racism between Asians themselves like when the other Asian family in "East is East" comes to the house they wipe their hands after shaking hands with the Kahn family. In "Bend it like Beckham" the racism against another race is when the in-laws of Pinkie call of her wedding because she saw Jess with a white boy, when it was actually a girl.
