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Madrid’s city hall apologises over

Epiphany video featuring blackface

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2024/01/06/madrid-apologises-over-epip
hany-video-featuring-blackface/

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5073319

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/05/madrid-investigates-racist-epiphany-videos-f
eaturing-blackface-sent-to-children
b) Brief Summary :

Madrid City Hall has apologized after videos were released for the feast of Epiphany
showing a white actor painted black to portray one of the three wise men, Balthazar,
traditionally described as African in ancient Christian texts and Renaissance paintings. This
representation, criticized for its racism, caused outrage in Spain, notably from the anti-racist
platform “Afrofeminas” and politicians, who condemned the use of an accent and
grammatical errors in the videos like being degrading. Despite the video's producer
apologizing, this incident highlights a broader issue of racism and lack of representation,
especially since Madrid has 120,000 residents of African descent. The tradition of portraying
Balthazar by white people using black makeup is part of an Epiphany tradition in Spain,
although the practice has been increasingly contested in recent years.

c) Write a short analysis of the difference in the three headlines. How are they
different? What choices have been made in selecting the headlines?

The three headlines address the city of Madrid's reaction to the controversy surrounding
Epiphany videos showing a white actor dressed as black. Here is an analysis of the
differences between these titles and the editorial choices made:

“Madrid apologizes over Epiphany video featuring blackface”: This title focuses on the
apologies presented by the city of Madrid, without specifically mentioning the racist aspect of
the videos or the target audience. It is direct and neutral, focusing on the action of
apologizing.

“Madrid investigates ‘racist’ Epiphany videos featuring blackface sent to children”: This title is
more descriptive and critical. He highlights not only the apology but also the ongoing
investigation, explicitly calling the videos "racist" and specifying that they were sent to
children. This choice of words increases the seriousness of the incident by highlighting the
racist aspect and the vulnerable public concerned.

“Madrid’s city hall apologizes over Epiphany video featuring blackface”: Similar to the first
title, this one specifies that it is Madrid City Hall which is apologizing, adding a layer of
institutional responsibility. However, like the first title, it does not mention the racist aspect or
the fact that the videos were aimed at children.

d) Comment on the differences between the three articles under the following
headings. Support your answer with quotations.

1. CONTENT & DETAIL: What extra details does one article offer over the others?
What details have been missed out?

All three articles cover the Epiphany videos incident in Madrid involving a white actor painted
black to portray Balthazar. The Taiwan News article provides specific details of the city hall's
apology and criticism from activists and politicians, highlighting an unfortunate mistake by
the video production company. The Guardian digs deeper into the racial and historical
implications of the incident, citing experts and politicians to discuss the cultural and social
impact. The Free Malaysia Today article focuses on City Hall's apology and the response
from an anti-racism group, offering a more focused perspective on the institutional and
community response.

2. VOCABULARY / COMPLEXITY OF LANGUAGE- How complex is the language of

each article? What words in particular are usual or interesting? Is there any technical
jargon?

The language in the three articles varies in complexity. Taiwan News uses relatively simple
language to describe the events. The Guardian employs more nuanced and technical
vocabulary, discussing the "symbolic remnants of Spanish imperialism" and the "notion of
'pure blood'", thus introducing a level of analytical complexity. Free Malaysia Today
maintains a simplicity comparable to Taiwan News, focusing on facts and direct reactions.

3. TONE- What is the tone of each article? If they are different, consider why.

The tone of Taiwan News is informative and neutral, aiming to report facts and reactions.
The Guardian takes a more critical and analytical tone, highlighting the structural problems
of racism in Spain. Free Malaysia Today also seems informative but with a slight emphasis
on condemning the act, highlighting the negative reaction from the community.

4. ATTITUDE / STANCE / BIAS OF THE WRITER- Does the writer of either article
have an agenda or preference? How can you tell? Can you identify the newspaper's
bias in the article (Guardian = left-wing; Daily Mail = right- wing)?

Taiwan News and Free Malaysia Today present the events in a relatively neutral manner,
although the selection of quotes shows disapproval of the act. The Guardian, known for its
progressive orientation, analyzes the incident within a broader context of racism and
imperialism, indicating a more committed stance against racism and in favor of diversity.

5. ACCOMPANYING PHOTO(S), ILLUSTRATIONS, GRAPHICS, GRAPHS - What

graphics are included with each article? How does the choice of accompanying
images reflect the articles' differences? Does the choice of photo/illustration influence
the way the story is being presented?

All three articles are accompanied by images depicting the incident. However, we note that
Free Malaysia Today and Taiwan News, given the size of the article, only publish one image
while The Guardian publishes two in order to clearly illustrate each point. Free Malaysia
Today directly presents an image of the shocking incident directly to the reader, Taiwan
News chooses to publish an image of the parade itself with the magicians and spectators. As
for The Guardian, they chose to publish an image of the parade in its entirety and an image
of a camel carrying gifts roaming the streets during the Epiphany parade in Madrid.

The choice of photo significantly influences the influence that the story has on the reader as
we can see here where Free Malaysia Today decides to be direct and more shocking, while
The Guardian tries to be more critical in the writing but still presented the parade which is an
important celebration for the Spanish.
e) Explain which article you prefer and why. You may make your decision based on
any criteria you choose (e.g. how entertaining/clear/informative/stylish the article was)
as long as you make it clear what criteria you have judged the articles on. Support
any statement you make with quotations.

We find The Guardian article to be my favorite. My main criterion for judgment is the clarity,
depth of analysis and the way in which the article addresses the issue of structural racism.

The Guardian article stands out for its ability to contextualize the incident within a broader
framework of racism and tradition, highlighting the evolution of Spanish society vis-à-vis
these controversial practices. It not only discusses the specific details of the incident but also
highlights the reactions of various actors in society, including politicians and activists, thus
providing a nuanced overview of the implications of this act.

Additionally, the article discusses previous efforts to eliminate these discriminatory practices,
such as former Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena's initiative to end the use of blackface in
Epiphany parades, and mentions a similar case involving Barcelona football legend Andres
Iniesta. This approach provides rich context and helps understand the impact and
repercussions of such actions on the community.

Finally, the attention paid to the statements of municipal officials and their efforts to
apologize and rectify the error demonstrates an institutional awareness, albeit belated, of the
seriousness of the problem. This highlights the importance of responsibility and reflection in
cultural representation and public celebrations.

Direct quotes from influential figures and analysis of the role of social media in the
dissemination and condemnation of the incident enrich the article, providing a
comprehensive perspective on how society reacts and evolves in the face of contested
traditions.

In summary, The Guardian article stands out for its depth of analysis, its comprehensive
coverage of societal reactions and its examination of the broader context of racism in Spain,
making it a shining example of thoughtful and informative journalism.