Righting and Re-Writing The Blueprint: The creation of an Afrofuturistic television series and a self-sustaining television network to disrupt the misrepresentation of the Caribbean Family in British Television Drama

This autoethnographic practice-based thesis maps the diminishing representation of the British Caribbean Family in British Television Drama, particularly the absence of the One African Family framework and the overall invisibility of the Black presence in British History. This thesis further addresses specific economic, historical, and social factors that mainstream television utilises, through drama, to control the narrative of the British Caribbean Family’s loss of identity, resources and wealth, the emasculation of the Black Male, the destructive trauma of Fictive Kin, and the impact on future generations. The role of the predominately Black television Gatekeepers globally still confines Black television production to the stereotypical narrative originating from Hollywood media oligarchy misinformation. This reinforces White Privilege, theoretically referred to as the Fish-in-Water culture, and stifles significant advancement under the guise of Integration, Individualism, and Assimilation. This thesis has three unique artefacts bringing original contributions to knowledge: InVisible, an Afrofuturistic British Caribbean Family Drama Series; Onyx, a Blueprint to create an independent disruptive television platform showcasing original television programmes including InVisible; Butterfly, a supporting weekly digital Television and Film Magazine introducing the groundbreaking work of Black Creatives to a global audience. Together, these artefacts have implications for future generations as they challenge the political, educational, financial, and social discourse of British Television Drama. Through InVisible, Onyx, and Butterfly, this thesis has developed original and innovative methods of engaging with and acquiring knowledge through the autoethnographic eyes of previously ignored audiences. By exploring the challenges facing the British Caribbean Family and Black British television producers, this thesis concludes that a self-sustaining, vertically integrated television network, not reliant on mainstream technology, money, or resources, would provide the autonomy required to give the British Caribbean and the Black Diaspora the freedom of expression to correct information and the potential to create sustained Black Wealth.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

PhD

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

De Montfort University

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Cooper-Chambers, Beverley

Licence

• https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/f3641c56-9e98-4d8d-92e4-e2a5e0e572fa/download