Gilroy's post colonial theory

Theory Overview

• Paul Gilroy’s Postcolonial Theory explores how the legacy of colonialism continues to shape representations of race, ethnicity, and power in media.

• Gilroy argues that even in supposedly “postcolonial” societies, racial hierarchies and colonial attitudes persist — often seen through representations of whiteness as “normal” and people of colour as “other.”

• He also highlights ideas of hybridity (mixed identities that blend cultures) and diaspora (the experience of living away from one’s country of origin), suggesting these can challenge traditional notions of national identity.

• Media texts often reflect social inequalities, racial power dynamics, and cultural tensions, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Representation of Race and Whiteness

• The series mainly features white European characters, reflecting the dominance of Western perspectives within global media.

• This aligns with Gilroy’s idea that postcolonial media often continues to center whiteness and Western culture as the “default” or “normal” identity.

Global Setting and Cultural Power

• The narrative spans across Europe — including London, Paris, and Moscow — representing a Western geopolitical landscape associated with wealth, power, and intelligence networks.

• The lack of racial diversity in these institutions (e.g., MI5, intelligence agencies) subtly reinforces the historical exclusion of people of colour from positions of authority in Western narratives.

The “Other” and Villainy

• While not focused on race explicitly, Killing Eve uses “foreignness” symbolically: Villanelle, as a Russian assassin, is framed as exotic, unpredictable, and dangerous — a form of “othering” that reflects postcolonial stereotypes of non-Western characters.

• This supports Gilroy’s view that Western media often associates foreignness with danger or moral ambiguity

Power and Identity

• he series contrasts Western institutional power (MI5) with Villanelle’s anarchic individualism, symbolically exploring colonial hierarchies of control vs. rebellion.

• Eve’s journey into moral ambiguity can be seen as a metaphor for the West’s fascination with — and fear of — the cultural “other.

Race and Systemic Inequality

• The protagonist, Assane Diop, is a Black man in a white-dominated elite society, making racial inequality a central theme.

• His father, an immigrant from Senegal, suffers injustice at the hands of the wealthy Pellegrini family — a clear reflection of postcolonial class and racial hierarchies that persist in Europe.

Colonial Legacy

• The Pellegrini family’s wealth and privilege can be read as symbolic of colonial power, built on exploitation and sustained by systemic corruption.

• Assane’s story becomes one of resistance and reclamation, echoing Gilroy’s ideas about the ongoing struggle of postcolonial subjects to gain justice and equality.

Hybridity and Cultural Identity

• Assane embodies cultural hybridity — he draws on both his African heritage and his life in France, using intelligence, sophistication, and creativity to outsmart the elite.

• His character reflects the modern diasporic identity: confident, resourceful, and aware of racial inequality, yet capable of navigating both worlds.

Resistance and Power Reversal

• Through cleverness rather than violence, Assane reverses colonial power dynamics — the oppressed (a Black working-class man) outsmarts the oppressor (white elite).

• This challenges the Eurocentric idea of white superiority and reinforces Gilroy’s belief in resistance through intellect and cultural hybridity.

Representation and Visibility

• Lupin provides positive representation of a Black lead in a mainstream French production, addressing the lack of racial diversity in European media.

• This visibility helps challenge postcolonial norms by redefining what a “hero” looks like in Western television.