Postcolonial Theory

    I find reading the Postcolonial Theory of chapter 3 very informative. I learned new things from it. This theory covers somehow problematic concepts. I have never before think about how this theory is applied in film. When we think about postcolonial theory we focus on the gaze in film and how black and colonized bodies in film are portrayed. Postcolonial theory focuses on the visual representation of other and it shows all of the stereotypes about cultural and racial difference.  Because of all of this, it is important to mention postcolonial theory in the film culture as well. 

    A lot of films cover themes of domination of colonies and colonial power and show colonial images of gender, race, and different classes. Not all of the films take this theory very serious and pay attention of how they represent the things. Whether if the scenario is fictional or documentary, whether if the characters are portrayed correctly or they are portrayed as savages, primitive and outside of modernity. This kind of films try to address the issues and effects of colonialism by involving and portraying historical events and representing marginalized groups.

    I cannot think about any postcolonial film that I have watched and because of that I did research on the Internet. I found the film Chocolat (1988) by the french film director Claire Denis as an example of the use of postcolonial theory in films. This is a film that explores the themes of power, desire, betrayal in colonial inter-relationships.