The document discusses stereotypical representations of Asians in media. It notes that Muslims are often portrayed as terrorists in reference to events like 9/11. The Alvarado Theory suggests that Asians are commonly shown as dangerous, pitied, humored, or exotic. Historically, British colonization influenced stereotypes of Indians as soldiers and servants to Britain. Today, media still depicts harmful stereotypes of Asians as terrorists, though some individuals like Malala Yousafzai and Anuradha Koirala challenge these stereotypes through their progressive activism.

1. Asian
representations
By Jaskirat, Navdeep, Aamina and Backy

2. Archetype representations of
Asians.
Apu
• Shop owner
• Loads of children
• Accent
• Crafty
• Stingy
Jaffar
• Angry
• Stern
• Strict
• Ostentatious
Muslims
• Terrorist
• Jihadi
• Extremist
• Bombs
• 9/11
• Bin Laden

3. Archetypes.
One big archetype portrayed in the media is that all Asians –
specifically Muslims are portrayed as terrorists.
Due to the devastating terrorist attacks in the past decade, for
example; 9/11 and 7/7, the media have taken advantage of the
vulnerability of Asian and they have used them as a scapegoat to
blame all of their issues.
According to the Alvarado Theory, Asians are shown as dangerous,
pitied, humoured and exotic, as a whole. However we know that
dangerous and negative representations of groups tend to strike
people more.

4. Alvarado Theory
Exotic Pitied
Dangerous Humoured

5. Historical Representations
Before all of these stereotypes were created, many
people had a different view on Asians. A lot of our
historical stereotypes of Asians come from the time when
Britain had colonised India, in the 19th/20th century.
India was one of Britain’s most prized possession. It
brought spices, jewels and textiles to Britain as well as
the Indian army. They played a big part in WW1&2, as
soldiering was an honourable tradition and the soldiers
formed a backbone of British military power.
This showed that Asians were determined and ready to
fight as they were fighting for Britain. However, they
were still seen as inferior to the white race. They were
seen as puppets and tools. They were shown this way
because the British empire still needed to have that
power after they were weakened by the war. Suggesting
that Britain had their hegemonic values to keep intact.

6. Representations Today
Although time has moved on, these demeaning
stereotypes have got worse. Modern day media depicts
Asians to be evil, terrorists and heartless. Due to the
ignorance of some people, innocent civilians are hit
with racial abuse and hate crimes.
The media are the root of this issue that has grown and
they are solely to blame. According to the ‘cultivation
theory’, the more that you are shown something
through the media, the more you believe it. The media
have planted a seed in the brains of ignorant young
people, therefore the ideologies of people have not
changed at all.

7. Representations Today
The racial archetypes are caused by groups like
the ISIS and the Taliban. These jihadist groups
have been the cause. The religion of the minor
groups has been emphasised. Just like this
Muslims are used as scapegoats, the religion of
these people, is what people believe is the issue.
Therefore they view all Muslims badly.
As well as the representation being quite
recessive, there are some people that are
standing out of the crowd and are being quite
progressive. For example Malala Yousafzai – a
Pakistani activist for female education. She is
the youngest ever Nobel Prize recipient, aged
just 17. Another progressive example would be
Anuradha Koirala – a woman from Nepal who
founded a non-profit organisation which has
helped over 12,000 women and girls from sex
and trafficking and prostitution.

8. Thank you for
listening.