Representing British Bangladeshis in the global city : authenticity, text and performance

This paper will focus on the ways in which people seek to represent the social, cultural and political life of British Bangladeshis in London's 'East End' through different textual genres. These representations inevitably involve the issue of authenticity" not only people's claims to be 'insiders' but also competing claims about who are the 'real' or most authentic insiders. Authenticity is also established within the context of place" local, national and transnational" and involves people engaging with wider social, cultural and political changes across the 'global city', Britain and beyond the national border to Bangladesh in particular. Specific places provide arenas where people can act out their claims to be the authentic voice of 'their community' and challenge the authority of others.