Rewatch "Alive in Joburg." Consider the way the aliens are represented. Given what we discussed in class, look for details and make a claim for what you think those details represent. Try to use argument sources to bolster your assertions if you can. Remember, the more specific, the better.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Blog Post #5: Alive in Joburg
Rewatch "Alive in Joburg." Consider the way the aliens are represented. Given what we discussed in class, look for details and make a claim for what you think those details represent. Try to use argument sources to bolster your assertions if you can. Remember, the more specific, the better.
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In watching “Alive in Joburg” there are many conclusions to make from the details concerning the aliens. In Joburg South Africa around 1990 the Apartheid was taking place. Which directly translates to “the status of being apart.” This is directly related to the aliens living separately from the humans. Segregation was strong in South Africa during 1990 and within the short this is emphasized on how the aliens were living. The humans wanted the aliens to go back to where they came from along with the aliens wanting to go home. One of the aliens interviews states, “We are not welcome here and we do not want to stay.” The aliens themselves do not feel treated well and would like to go home. There poor living conditions given by the humans include no electricity or running water. These living conditions and ideas of getting away are identical to those of the Apartheid during 1990.
ReplyDeleteUpon defining the true definition of what Apartheid means, it makes it much more evident that this is a representation of the Zimbabwean refugees who fled their country due to an economic crisis. The aliens needed a new place to look for resources and South Africa fit them very well with all the natural minerals and precious metals. The parallel here is quite evident and is one of the best modern day representations of the Apartheid. This short is very informative and given the time period makes a lot of sense with the given topic.
DeleteThe aliens in “Alive in Joberg” seem to represent the Zimbabwean refugees, who fled their country due to an economic crisis. The film takes place in 1990, where apartheid regulations were still in effect. In the short film, the aliens were forced to live in the slums where the already oppressed black population occupied. This relates to the time period due to the fact that the white population, at the time, forced the Zimbabweans to live in overpopulated “black” slums. The conditions, for both aliens and Zimbabweans, were harsh and undesirable.
ReplyDeleteThe film uses interviews to gain the locals’ perspectives of the alien race. However, these interviews actually occurred in real life. South Africans were asked their opinions of the Zimbabwean refugees fleeing into South Africa. The Zimbabweans frustrated the locals and this is evident in their comments. One South African called them “the poleepkwa” which is a derogatory term. The South Africans were upset with the aliens’ arrival just as they were with the Zimbabweans’ arrival.
I agree with you that the aliens represent the refugees. i also agree with what you said about the oppression being faced by the people. the conditions in both cases were terrible.
DeleteBased upon watching “Alive in Joburg”, I believe the aliens represent the malnourished Africans stuck in a slum during the Apartheid. The Apartheid was taking place during the 90’s, so it fits this claim. District 9 is the slum of which MNU forces them to live. The aliens are stuck in terrible living conditions and are forced to steal in order to survive. This is why we see the butcher shop owner wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a 9mm. One of the aliens is interviewed saying we are not welcome here and we do no want to stay. Also, knowing that the interviews were actual interviews from people speaking on behalf of the Apartheid, it proves that this is what the aliens actually represent. The aliens also steal the human’s resources, like electricity and water. This is parallel to the Africans during the Apartheid that did not have any resources and were forced to do anything to get what they needed. The aliens are called prawns, which means “Although a member of the cricket order Orthoptera, it is placed in the family Anostostomatidae, separate from that of the true crickets, Gryllidae.” This fits perfectly because Apartheid is the separation of races.
ReplyDeleteThe level of crime in South Africa increased because of the poor living conditions of the people who lived in the slums during the years of apartheid. This sector of the population had to steal in order to survive. Just like the aliens in "Alive in Joburg", the black population fought against the members of white society. As fighting continued, each side became increasingly hostile towards each other. Also, the separation of the aliens and humans is a direct parallel of the racial segregation that South Africa faced. These harsh actions added fuel to the events that occurred during the years of apartheid.
DeleteThe aliens in “Alive in Joburg” represent the numerous conflicts that were going on in South Africa during the years of apartheid. The aliens are represented in a negative way by their appearance. They were perceived as a bothersome "bottom feeders". A similar attitude is shown towards the black population by the white society. This portion of society sought out to separate themselves from the black population. The segregation of the aliens into camps displays the economic discrimination that they faced. This was the same for the black population during apartheid.They were forced to stay in filthy and overpopulated camps. These camps had a limited supply of food and water. Furthermore, there were laws made against the aliens. The blacks also had laws formed against them. They were prevented from owning land, going to the best schools, and choosing which type of housing they desired to reside in. As tensions rose, blacks fought the white members so they could achieve a better life.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned appearance; everyone make others feel bad if they are not like them. Looks shouldn't matter or be the biggest turn off for others. I believe the aliens were segregated because they had "slimy" skin which made them different from the beginning of the "Alive in Joburg."
DeleteThe aliens were considered "bottom feeders" becuase of how different they were from the South Africans. When the large spaceships came to South Africa and the aliens started living with the South Africans, the South Africans were uncomfortable with the situation becuase they thought the aliens were strange. The aliens don't want to live in Johannesburg anymore because of how they were being unfairly treated and how laws were passed that restricted their rights.
DeleteThe way that you wrote this really helps understand the similarities that occurred between the apartheid and the aliens. The comparison helped tied the whole thing together, and it made a bigger impact. I agree with your statement with the segregation. These innocent creatures were treated terribly just because of the way they looked. This is no way to treat a person. These creatures should not be judged just because they look scary.
DeleteI like how you mentioned their looks. I do think within segregation there is always something pertaining to looks. For example skin color or in this case slimy skin. There is a sense of "what the hell is that?" when it looking at an alien and I believe that is a major factor on why they are perceived to be "different" from the begging. Language and difference in how they live have a lot of reasoning behind them being segregated from the humans, but I like how you considered their looks.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the film, “Alive in Joberg,” there are many conclusions to make from the details concerning the aliens, but one in particular would be that they represent malnourished Africans living in the “slum” during the Apartheid. During the 90s, the Apartheid was taking place in South Africa. The film uses interviews to gain the locals’ perspectives of the alien race. However, these interviews actually occurred in real life. One of the aliens interviews states, “We are not welcome here and we do not want to stay.” This shows that they want to go home and be treated well, just like the malnourished Africans.
ReplyDeleteThe humans gave the aliens poor living conditions and they want them to go back to where they came from. Additionally, all the aliens want is to return home. The aliens were segregated from the humans because of their looks. The aliens are foreign creatures to the humans and they look very different than the humans. The aliens have slimy skin and they speak differently than us making it hard to understand what they are saying most of the time. The aliens and the humans have so many differences which is the main reason they are segregated and live in different areas.
DeleteThe amount of crime in South Africa rose due to the poor living conditions the Africans had to deal with. In order to survive they had to fight back and do what was needed. Like the aliens in "Alive in Joburg", the fighting broke out against the white population. The separation of the aliens and humans is supposed to represent the racial segregation that South Africa faced.
DeleteI think the main point of this film was to show the Apartheid ideas during that time. The aliens were considered beneath the poor class, and the poor class wanted them to leave. They wanted to be segregated from them just like they were segregated from the white south africans. The movie shows how the poor south africans were using the same excuses for segregation that the white south africans were using.
DeleteI think the aliens represent the Zimbabwean refugees. The reason why I think the aliens are respresented like this is becuase when the Zimbabweans came over to South Africa in the early 1990's, they were put in hard living conditions. They had no food and the only way they were able to get food is to steal it. That is what the aliens had to do in order to stay alive and be well. The large spaceships hovering over Johannesberg, South Africa connects with the Zimbabwean refugees coming over from Zimbabwe to South Africa. One of the interviews features a South African man and he talks about how the aliens are making all of the South Africans feel uncomfortable. He also says that the South Africans have no idea what the aliens are going to do next. The Zimbabwean refugees are being portrayed like the aliens and the South Africans are frustrated with what the aliens are doing to their homeland.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they represent the Zimbabwean refugees. They way in which they feed off of others proves this. The interview truly shows the affect that they have on the community. it gives them a sense of uncertainty.
DeleteThe aliens in the short film 'Alive in Joburg' are depicted as an impoverished species unable to adapt to the poor conditions of the slums in Johannesburg. Taking place in 1990, the aliens seem to represent those refugees specifically from Zimbabwe during the Apartheid in South Africa. In the film, Africans are interviewed about the opinions of those aliens living amongst them. The native people are afraid for their well-being describing the aliens as foreign, dangerous, and causing nothing but problems. An increase in crime, rape, and violence has been associated with the the introduction of the aliens as well. In reality the opinions expressed by the natives from the interviews is in response to the Zimbabwe refugees and not the aliens. The ability to use these interviews in the film shows the parallels of the refugees in reality to those aliens living in this same circumstance.
ReplyDeleteThe ability of the director to use interviews as a parallel between aliens and Zimbabwean refugees is actually quite remarkable. This demonstrates peoples' perspectives of outsiders, whether the outsiders are from this planet or not. People always notice differences and call these "odd" characteristics into question. Typically, people expect similar traits from outsiders and find issue with those that are outside of the norm. These classifications lead to harsh and unfriendly treatment to anyone, who is not a local. It is truly sad how individuals react to those they see and outsiders.
DeleteThe way the interviews of the natives can be considered talk about aliens or the Zimbabwean refugees is interesting. The way they describe the aliens/Zimbabwean refugees is simillar to the way many people think about immigrans at first and so it makes sense that they might not be talking about aliens. Many people are insecure around things that are new or foreign and d fear for their well being,
DeleteSouth Africa experienced a regime from the 1948 to 1994 called the Apartheid, or governmentally-supported racial segregation. All blacks were forced to slum villages on the outskirts of cities while whites were encouraged to live in the center of them where they would be "protected" from the blacks. The Apartheid also applied to Zimbabwean refugees who flocked to South Africa. South Africans feared these "aliens" and believed they were nothing but trouble. As seen in "Alive in Joburg," even butchers began carrying firearms and wearing bulletproof vests to protect their meat in case Zimbabweans choose to attack them over it. Women also feared being raped or murdered by these outsiders. The dark skin color that Zimbabwean people possess serves as an widely understoof excuse to discriminate during Apartheid, just as the slimy, squid-like faces of the aliens in "Alive in Joburg" are cause for severe measures to be taken against them.
ReplyDeleteThe ability for the directors of "Alive in Joburg" to cut and edit the interviews of the Africans and use it to refer to the aliens rather than the Zimbabwean refugees is quite remarkable. It is inevitable to see the tensions brought about by these outsiders and how the natives would arm themselves to protect their well-being from these so-called intruders. Discrimination against these refugees is a lot more transparent when replaced with aliens that are a completely different species. The aliens serve the audience as a representation of those from District 6 from Cape Town and show the brutality and tensions produced from the situation.
DeleteThe aliens in "Alive in Joburg" represent malnourished Africans. Around 1990 the apartheid was taking place in South Africa. This is represented in the short film by the aliens and humans being segregated and living in different areas. One alien said "we are not welcome here and we do not want to stay." The aliens do not understand why the humans treat them so poorly and give them such terrible living conditions. The aliens know that they do not fit in with the humans so all they want to do is to go home. This interview along with all the others were real interviews of people speaking on behalf of the apartheid. This proves that this is an appropriate representation of how the malnourished Africans were truly feeling.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that the aliens aimed to represent that the Africans were malnourished though you could make this assumption through they're need for water in "Alive in Joburg". The fact that the aliens do not know why they are being treated in such manner in my opinion derives from them being so foreign to humanity. Humans have picked out races or genders and done horrible things to these specific races or genders in the past so one accustom to humanity would be able to see a repeating historical theme and pick up on that.
DeleteSorry I just noticed a mistake. I meant Africans, not African Americans....
ReplyDelete"Alive in Joburg" was meant to represent the segregation happening in South Africa with immigration that was happening from the east. These people were seen to be nothing but trouble and hated. This was the same way the aliens in the film were treated. All of the aliens were given stereotypes just as the people moving into South Africa were. This kid of treat is the kind we as people tend to give to things that we are unfamiliar with.
ReplyDeleteThe Aliens in “Alive in Joburg” are presented as a threat to the humans. They are separated from the rest of the city by a giant wall. The area in which they live reminds me much of the slum. They are like the bums in a sense, having to feed off of others trash. The power and water in which they steal from the city is their effort to survive. As aliens, they do not understand as to why they are unwelcome. The uncertainty of what the aliens will do next gives the community a sense of uneasiness.The existence of them has changed the way in which the community feels.
ReplyDeleteThey are presented as a threat to humans, but what the main idea of the aliens was, was to represent the immigration of the other africans from the east, and the segregation happening from that. The apartheid was still a huge moment in history going on during this movie so keep that in mind. Solid points on the view points and thoughts of the aliens, they are mistreated and have to live like it.
DeleteIn watching “Alive in Joburg” there are many conflicts going on in South Africa during the apartheid. Apartheid translates to “the status of being apart.” This relates to the aliens because they are pushed to live in the slums and be apart from everyone else. Segregation was very prevalent in South Africa during the 1990s. I believe that the aliens represent the malnourished Africans that are in the slums during the apartheid. They are stuck in terrible living conditions and forced to rob and steal to survive. Not only do the aliens steal food they also steal the recourses that the South Africans have like electricity and water. This is like the Africans during the apartheid that done have any recourses and are forced to do what they need to survive.
ReplyDeleteYour focus on the treatment of the aliens within the slums is an interesting idea. Instead of the aliens maliciously deciding to wreak havoc on Joburg, they are only forced to do so as a result of how the humans treat them. They act out of the need to survive, but the South Africans are unable to see that they are the cause of this behavior. If only the South Africans could step into the shoes of the aliens, and perhaps they would understand their desperation and raah actions.
DeleteAs we had discussed in class the aliens in "Alive in Joburg" represent the segregation of the African inhabitants of South Africa from the white individuals. During this time Africans were pushed to the outskirts of the city while the wealthier mostly white individuals remained in the central parts of the city. After watching this again I noticed a few details within the short film that serve as a way to represent what people thought of the exiled Africans. The first detailed is how the aliens are shown in a grotesque manner making less than desirable noises and looking dirty. Secondly they are always shown in a slum type neighborhood and when they are not the aliens tend to be causing problems for humans. I also noticed that the government is fully on board with getting rid of the aliens and in some sense demoralizing them. This to me represents that during the actual apartheid the government was taking the same type of actions which is true.
ReplyDeleteI think that the apartheid played a role in the movie. I see what you mean about the slums that were in the film. I think that those represented District 6 during that time. But I don't think that represented segregation between blacks and whites but that they represented the segregation that was happening in their country between the people.
DeleteThe Aliens in "Alive in Joburg" are represented by different traits that make them stand out. For example, when the Aliens are shown, they have their faces blurred out and all the viewer is able to see are the tentacles from the face and hear them speak. I think that this is done to separate the Aliens from the humans. The Aliens showed up unexpectedly and were not able to be fit into a preexisting group of people. So the people come together and band together against them. I think that this is evident that there was a distinction between "us" and "them" to create a union within the people. I think that during this time, there was a lot of issues with the apartheid. I think that the Aliens represent those that were cast out into the DIstrict 6 during this time.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you took a more cinematic approach in analyzing the film and how the aliens are represented. I also noticed how the blurred faces of the aliens in a way added to the stigma associated with them in the fact that it further highlighted the differences between their representation and that of their human counterparts. The fact that the film was shot during the apartheid era in Johannesburg South Africa helped to liken the aliens with the Zimbabwean refugees and the "local" interviews from real people gave the film and the alien presence a sense of authenticity not often seen in science fiction movies.
DeleteThere are many details in "Alive in Joburg" that have meanings that are obviously related to Apartheid, which was a system of racial segregation informed by the government that went on in South Africa in the early 1990s. In the short video, the aliens and the humans living in south Africa are segregated. The segregation was enforced by the government. Much like the large amount of segregation between white and black Africans during Apartheid. Also, they are living in very poor conditions and are neglected and treated poorly by humans. However, the aliens also treat the humans poorly by disrupting their piece and stealing their possessions. Much like Apartheid, the aliens were forced to leave their home and were put into a new world where they seemed to be stuck in for a while.
ReplyDelete“Alive In Joburg” is a profound storytelling which convey information about Afrikaans minority, and the issue of Apartheid. The aliens may be represented to be the captive labors. According to the background that this short film was shot in 1990 where the effect of apartheid still exists in South Africa, the director displays a courageous vision of the prejudices against black Nigerians and Zimbabweans. In the film, the aliens land in a city, commit crimes, collide with the police, and begin taking up residence. All of their behaviors cause reluctant changes for residents there. From one interviewee’s statement that “anything that rises up against the institutions of Apartheid government, they would just knock down.” The aliens who can be regarded as Zimbabweans are forced to live among the slums where the environment is unacceptable and undesirable. Ironically, the majority of that they discriminate aliens are those Zimbabweans who need to be better understood their situations.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching “Alive in Joburg” there was the detail of how many of the people did not what to have the aliens around. The people did not seem them as equals to themselves. This is like how some Americans do not see Mexicans as equals, which is why they get less pay, or less hours. Since the people of South Africa only saw the aliens as bottom feeders they wanted to have a segregated community. This is also like when the whites and blacks had separated things in the south. Blacks and whites were not seen on the same level just like how the natives don’t see the aliens on the same level. They had them living in the slums of the neighbor hoods and that’s how people would associate most of them, even when they are some that were not like the others. The aliens did not like being looked down upon so they started fighting back with natives just like when riots started happing between the whites and the blacks. These two different stories give the same point of view just with different characters.
ReplyDeleteThis short film did highlight the segregation that was going on during Apartheid, but did it not show any other different ways of segregation. Not just between whites and blacks, but between other races or religions as well? I would agree that they did make them want to leave by having them live among the poor south africans, could they have afforded to live anywhere else though? When they had Apartheid going on in the 90s weren't they monsters since they were taking the land that they were living on so are the aliens not an example of how they were having their stolen from them and how they had to live among them and try to get along.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Alive in Joburg" the main point represented would be the segregation in South Africa, and as a more broad approach the overall negative way they were treated as minorities. Which I also think that the aliens are represented as the work force that is enslaved. In the background history of the 1990's was the African Apartheid still existed and there was a decent amount of segregation and racial prejudices. The aliens in the movie made a bad name for themselves as well, coming to the city and committing crimes, disrespecting the police, and taking up residencies in the city. They are forced to live in the slums and are represented almost like the zimbabwes.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you said that the aliens could represent the work force that is enslaved. My one question is that where in the short or the film are the aliens enslaved to work for them. Also when you say they made a bad name for themselves by coming to the city and disrespecting the police, I saw it as their ship breaking down and crash landing almost. Also in the fact that they disrespect the police could be that they are brutally forced into a slum, and know no laws that are put on them considering the fact they can't communicate with them.
DeleteIn “Alive in Johannesburg “ the aliens seem to represent human immigrants who moved into the slums and made to stay there by the Apartied government in South Africa and Johannesburg at the time of this film. The aliens live in slums and are stuck without basic needs as well and they are being kept down by the government as well. Both groups were prejudiced against by the people of South Africa as well as the government. This being said, the aliens/immigrants are portrayed as monsters, but at the same time they are being shown in a light that makes them seem like the good characters in this “mockumentary” the people and government are persecuting them and they seem to be just trying to survive. The aliens don’t have any water, electricity, or access to medical treatment, while the people try to keep them at arms distance and clearly do not trust them as well as the government which attacks them violently if they leave their specific living area. They have their faces hidden from the cameras, but the people are shown exactly as they are. So, the aliens are the ones who are portrayed to actually be the victims and the people of South Africa and its government are the real monsters. The aliens represent the unfortunate immigrants who are being abused and mistreated and the people represent the uncaring government and the system it upholds.
ReplyDeleteAfter re-watching Neill Blomkamp’s short mocumentary “Alive in Joburg it is plainly clear that the film is meant to represent the themes of apartheid occurring in Johannesburg, South Africa at the time is was portrayed. The fact that the director not only chose to set the movie and film in the same location as the conflicts of the 1990s, but also chose to use real-life interviews of South Africans about the Zimbabwean refugees adds to its influence in depicting a real-life situation. The ways in which the aliens were portrayed as originally well liked until forced into their refugee camps also added to their similarities to the Zimbabwean’s along with the many laws, restrictions, and stigmas they obtained as the film progressed
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the connection the director made with the apartheid in Johannesburg. And I also mentioned the fact that the footage in the film was real reactions to the Zimbabweans.
DeleteIn Neill Blomkamp's mocumentary "Alive in Joburg" the aliens are portrayed as creatures not from Earth and should not be given the same rights as humans. In the video the alien is shot at by two soldiers in an abandoned street. The alien did not look like it was damaging surrounding property or even doing anything wrong. Just because something is different or out of the normal people should not discriminate against them. Tho it is supposed to be a fake story about aliens landing on Earth the footage in this film is real and based on Africans reactions to the Zimbabweans. It strange ans disturbing that this kind of mentality still goes on today.
ReplyDeleteIn "Alive in Joburg", Neill Blomkamp was comparing the aliens to the Zibabwean refugees from the apartheid. He basically replaced the refugees with the aliens. Even the interviews were supposed to be about the refugees. It is almost as if the refugees were basically aliens from outer space that didn't deserve to be treated the same. We can see in the film that they are trying to show that the aliens and even the refugees are treated unfairly. They are stuck in terrible living conditions without the necessary food and water to live. An example of this poor treatment is when the soldiers attack the alien for no apparent reason other than they want to. The alien was not disrupting anyone or anything he was just minding his own business. This shows that the government in Johannesburg was corrupt and that the actions they were taking were too extreme. They judged these innocent creatures just by what they looked like, they did not even take time to determine if they were kind or if they were evil. They just assumed that because they looked monstrous that their personalities had to be monstrous as well.
ReplyDeleteIn "Alive in Joburg' the aliens are represented as unwanted invaders. They are confined to a slum , with strict laws regarding what they can and cannot do. The aliens are viewed as second class citizens, and are abused by the law and the people in the area surrounding the slum. To me the aliens in this situation represent the immigrants from Zimbabwe into Johannesburg during the Apartheid era. This can be true because one they both take place in the same area, Johannesburg. Two is that just as the aliens were put into a slum, so were the immigrants during the Apartheid. Not a coincidence that the slum during the Apartheid was known as District 6, eerily similar to District 9(what the slum was called in the movie sequel to this). Lastly the slums in which the aliens were confined to started gangs and things like that, recieving weapons secretly, just as in the slums during the Apartheid.
ReplyDelete