Yasmin (2004)

Does it offer a positive or negative representation of British Muslims?

The film Yasmin, has represented British Muslims in a negative manner, as she has been going against the norm of Muslim women, as she was driving and working, which isn't expected from a Muslim women. Also, when the guy was praying, to awaken everyone into a peaceful day, the girl removes her cultural clothing, and in a sense ignores the prayers and wears English clothing and drives off, showing she has two different personalities. When in Islam you should be yourself and be truthful, she does this in private when nobody is around her, as she wouldn't want anyone to know about it. This links in with Katz and Blumlers theory of escapism, as she runs away from her lifestyle and changes. Furthermore, she disrespects her religion as she removes her hijab and as, she went into a pub, which isn't acceptable within Islam despite her not drinking anything, she was still in there, even though it wasn't shown she wasn't a Muslim girl, due to her not having any obvious factors showing she's Muslim, such as her hijab. 

However, there is a positive representation of the Muslim girl as she returns back into her cultural clothing, showing a sense of giving up and returning back and then is approached by the police. The police where white, approaching the Muslim girl, showing their racist. As, if she wasn't in that clothing they wouldn't approach her. Never the less, she was really accepting when the police approached her, and she gave all her details such as her name and how she hasn't had any points on her license. 

To what extent does the opening of Yasmin reinforce or challenge Said’s theory of Orientalism – that the west is superior to the exotic or dangerous east?

To a certain extent it would most likely show the west having power, due to the police being able have the power to stop Yasmin, due to her being muslim and questioning her. However, she stands her ground by answering the questions they would ask her, which could initially mean she's been questioned as such before, so showing a sense of being used to it, and showing herself to be a women who respects the people around her. The west are portrayed as the the opposite of what Said's theory of Orientalism would include, as the west is seen to be dangerous as shown through the graffiti and the police stopping and searching, as well as them entering the pub, which initially shows that they are going to get drunk and cause chaos. Moreover, the east are portrayed in a more sincere manner, and not dangerous.