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Late Summer vacation- In NY with family (30)
Arabs/Muslims in Western Media
Yasmine Dabbous, [email protected]
Orientalism (Edward Said)
Patterns of speaking about the Orient
1-Absolute, systematic difference between the West (us) and the Orient (them)2-The Orient is uniform (from Japan and India to Syria and Morocco) 3-The complexity and variety of “Oriental” countries is ignored 4-The Orient is inferior and incapable of defining itself >> It is either to be feared or to be controlled
Stereotyping
Reference to a social group where an easily-grasped, simplified characteristic or behavior is generalized to the whole group
Stereotypes are not necessarily bad. Categorization is normal and healthy. E.g. I need to know that I must obey people in uniform who guide the traffic
Stereotypes become problematic when they are ideological. Portraying “the other” in degrading ways may create justifications for prejudice and even for violence
Research of more recent media contentEntertainment and news19 studies between 1998 and 2014Germany, Britain, United States, Australia
Uniform group: Unified religious “other” against aWestern self
Under the Western “gaze”
In conflict with non-Muslims
After 9/11:-US: Resemble regular Americans but true to their type.-UK: A more positive image, with calls for integration
Semiotics (Roland Barthes)
Some signs (words, visuals, sounds) have a meta meaning beyond their regular, linguistic meaning (social, political, cultural)
Framing (Robert Entman)
Selection and salienceIn colloquial terms: Is the cup half empty or half full?
REEL BAD ARABS (JACK SHAHEEN): Orientalism persists in Hollywood. Around 900 Hollywood films (1920s-today) portray Arabs/Muslims in degrading stereotypes
Earlier image-Exotic, living in the desert, in palaces with harems and belly-dancers-Buffoons, idiots-Sexually starvedLater image-Filthy rich, want to buy America-Violent, blood-thirsty terrorists-Sexually starved
Reasons: 4 Ps1-Politics: Evidence of Hollywood-Washington cooperation 2-Profit: Viewers like films where Americans fight the “enemy”3-Prejudice: Stereotypes in society and people’s heads 4-Presence: Very few Arab/Muslim directors and producers in Hollywood
I come from a landFrom a faraway placeWhere caravan camels roarWhere they cut off your earsIf they don’t like your faceIt’s barbaric but hey it’s home
ما ارض من قادم انابعيد مكان من
الجمال قوافل حيثتجول
بقطع الناس يقوم حيثاذنيك
لهم يرق لم حال فيوجهك
ولكنه همجي مكان انهموطني
Late Summer vacation- In NY with family (30)Google search
Late Summer vacation- In NY with family (30)Exercises
Consequences
Radicalization of Muslims/ArabsThe media representation of Muslims/Arabs prompts them to isolate themselves from their Western counterparts. Studies show they become more attached to their identity, especially when living in the Western world.
Restrictions on civil libertiesPeople exposed to the media image of Muslims/Arabs tend to accept measures restricting their civil liberties, rights to express themselves, etc.
Anti-Muslim/Arab sentimentOne of the predictors of anti-Muslim/Arab sentiment is media exposure to news about Islam >> Violence?
Late Summer vacation- In NY with family (30)
Glenn Ligon, Untitled (1992). Metropolitan Museum of Art
ذو شخص بانني اشعراجبر عندما سوداء بشرةحائط امام الوقوف على
اللون ابيضذو - شخص بانني اشعر
اجبر عندما سوداء بشرةحائط امام الوقوف على
اللون ابيضذو - شخص بانني اشعر
اجبر عندما سوداء بشرةحائط امام الوقوف على
اللون ابيضذو - شخص بانني اشعر
اجبر عندما سوداء بشرةحائط امام الوقوف على
اللون ابيض
Late Summer vacation- In NY with family (30)Thank you!
