Jay Sean

Learning Objective:

• Develop understanding of Jay Sean, focusing on perceptions of his “asianness” and the concept of appropriation

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

How is Jay Sean represented in these images?

Starter

• How is Jay Sean represented in his video to “Down”? Consider (and take notes on):– Song genre– Lyrics– His mise-en-scene - compare to other artists in similar

genres– Other characters’ mise-en-scene– Stylistic elements of the video (e.g. special effects,

cinematography)– Character positions

Cultural Appropriation and Jay Sean

• The idea of appropriating other cultures/ethnicities through music is not a new phenomenon. Artists from Elvis to the Rolling Stones to Eminem have appropriated black music, style and culture.

• Jay Sean and other contemporary Asian artists have realised in the last few years that to attain any success in the record industry you might need to appropriate rather than innovate.

• Jay Sean is also an example of an artist who has become ‘deracialised’, a term coined to describe Barack Obama. It is the idea that a person’s ethnicity is somehow taken away so that it loses its importance.

• Others would argue that he hasn’t become deracialised and that he has an ethnicity, just not the one he was born into! We will now think about what his ethnicity is…

Jay Sean – a case study

• Jay Sean was born as Kamaljeet Singh Jhooti in Harlesden, Northwest London to Sharan and Bindi Jhooti, Punjabi Sikh immigrants

• Before signing a record deal he studied medicine at Queen Mary’s.• He made his recording with "Dance with You (NachnaTere Naal)’,

produced by Rishi Rich. • He is the first Asian origin solo artist and the first UK Urban act ever to top

Billboard's Hot 100“, with his single ‘Down’. • He is also only the ninth (but first British) male solo performer to top the

US charts with his debut single. The single sold two million copies in the United States, making him "the most successful male UK urban artist in US chart history.

“Top of the Poppadams”

“All the Raj”

Jay Sean article

• Task: read, discuss in pairs and then annotate, considering:1. What parts of his upbringing were stereotypically

‘Asian’?2. How was he initially treated by the press?3. How and why did this change?4. Why do you think he is more successful in the US

than the UK?5. Are his Sikh roots still important to him?6. Are there any other points made about his ethnicity

that you find interesting?

Jay Sean article

• What parts of his upbringing were stereotypically ‘Asian’?– Caution (only quit job after signing contract) – Importance of education– Buying property to rent out– Father a businessman– High status professional qualification

Jay Sean article

• How was Jay Sean initially treated by the press?– As an ‘Asian’ rather than a ‘British’ R&B

singer– Headlines like “Top of the Popadums” and “All

the Raj”

• How and why did this change?– Re-modelled himself - ditched Indian samples

and his old, spiky-haired Asian look for a poppier R&B vibe

Jay Sean article

• Why do you think he is more successful in the US than the UK?– US care less (and know less) about his

ethnicity – “I had a clean slate”

• Are his Sikh roots still important to him?– Yes, he is still proud of his culture– He believes he has helped young Asians

aspire to him as a role model

Written task

• Write at least 1 paragraph exploring how the newspaper article portrays Jay Sean, giving quotes as evidence.

Homework (for Monday)

• Write at least 200 words about how the theory of Stuart Hall might relate to Jay Sean.

• Think about how his identity has changed.