‘Real Bad Arabs’The Image Of Arabs In The American Media

Presenter: Abdulelah Aljabri

Presentation Out-LineIntroduction:

American Media (World Wide Influence)

Who are the Arabs ?

Stereotypes in American Media:

Image/Stereotypes of Arabs in American Media:

What Image is Portrayed for Arabs in A.M.?

What are the impacts of this?

Arabs as ‘The Enemy’:

Conclusion:

Strategies for Critical Film AnalysisStrategies for Critical Film Analysis

The Image Of Arabs In The American Media

Introduction

Arabs are the people of the 23 Arab countries of the Meddle East & North Africa. They speak Arabic.

Who Are the Arab People?

Arabs are the people of the 23 Arab countries of the Meddle East & North Africa. They speak Arabic.Their Total Population is in these countries is 250 million.Their Main Religion is Islam.Few Arab countries have a minority of less than 5% of Christian and Jewish Arabs. Lebanon has bigger religious minorities.Most common second language is English then French.Many Arab countries fought for their liberation from colonizers such as Britain and France in the 19th century.

Who Are the Arab People?

For the last 3 years the US Army has been Occupying Iraq an Arab country Illegally.Arabian Palestine has been occupied by Israel after Britain handed the country to the European migrated Jewish population which formed an Army and have been in conflict with Arabs since then. Israel has been supported by the US governments since day one (Israel establishment in 1948).History of Arab counties is attached to their Islamic Identity. For 1300 years they were leaders of or part of Islamic empires & dynasties.

Images From The Arab World

It is evident that American Cultural production is the most popular influential media industry world wide.American Media Brands are most dominant internationally in most Media products such as:

Movie IndustryTV Networks, News & EntertainmentMagazinesNovelsMusic and EntertainmentWeb sites

American Media (World Wide Influence)

Stereotypes in American MediaRacismRacism is : is : The tendency to discursively reduce a whole group of people to a number of essential characteristics (negative) which are then taken to explain that groups behavior, values, attitudes, cultural practices and material circumstances.

Stereotyping: Stereotypes about particular ethnic groups occur Stereotypes about particular ethnic groups occur when people believe, perpetuate, and characterize all people in a when people believe, perpetuate, and characterize all people in a certain group to share certain traits. Psychologists have noted the certain group to share certain traits. Psychologists have noted the role stereotypes play in human memory. When meeting a new role stereotypes play in human memory. When meeting a new person, for example, people may combine their firsthand person, for example, people may combine their firsthand perceptions of that person—appearance, personality, intelligenceperceptions of that person—appearance, personality, intelligence—with stereotypes they have formed about similar people.—with stereotypes they have formed about similar people.

- Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology - Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology

The media has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, The media has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, particularly regarding ethnic groups and women.particularly regarding ethnic groups and women.

Films produce, reproduce, and/or legitimize forms of thought and Films produce, reproduce, and/or legitimize forms of thought and feeling in society. Society, in turn, is affected and shaped by film.feeling in society. Society, in turn, is affected and shaped by film.

Stereotypes in American Media

African-American stereotypes:African-American stereotypes: Television and Hollywood films have Television and Hollywood films have historically featured blacks in demeaning roles—those of servants, historically featured blacks in demeaning roles—those of servants, drug abusers, common criminals, and threats to white society.drug abusers, common criminals, and threats to white society.

Asian-American stereotypes:Asian-American stereotypes: Asian characters are often depicted as Asian characters are often depicted as exotic or mysterious, as martial arts fighters, and as hard-working.exotic or mysterious, as martial arts fighters, and as hard-working.

Arab-American stereotypes:Arab-American stereotypes: Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners generally have been vilified in Hollywood productions, and are often generally have been vilified in Hollywood productions, and are often depicted as a faceless enemy. Typical roles in American popular depicted as a faceless enemy. Typical roles in American popular culture also include rich men, bombers, and belly dancers.culture also include rich men, bombers, and belly dancers.

Other stereotypes?Other stereotypes?

The most damaging images are those of Arabs and Muslims as terrorists.

Arab world is a desert with camels and old cracked buildings.

Arab men as violent terrorists

Oil “sheiks” , rich tribesmen who kidnap blond western women.

Arab women as belly dancers and harem girls.

Arab women as voiceless abused wives. That a man can marry even 20 women!

REEL BAD ARABS

Decade after decade film after film, these images have been repeated.

Lebanese-American media analyst Jack Shaheen has documented over 900 Hollywood films portraying Arabs in a negative and offensive manner.

He included many high-profile films : True Lies, Back to the future, The Mummy, Martial Law and many others.

There are less than a handful of films which have positive Arab characters: Three Kings, The 13th Warrior, Party Girl, Kingdom of Heaven... and >?

Think about it. Does the media affect Think about it. Does the media affect our perceptions of others?our perceptions of others?

Shaheen (2002): Portrayal of Arabs in American Shaheen (2002): Portrayal of Arabs in American comic bookscomic books

1=evil (149), 2=common people (39), 3=good (30) 1=evil (149), 2=common people (39), 3=good (30)

Arabs As The Enemy

Islam and fundamentalism are often Islam and fundamentalism are often portrayed as going hand in hand, portrayed as going hand in hand,

suggesting that all Muslims are radical suggesting that all Muslims are radical fundamentalists associated with violence fundamentalists associated with violence

and terrorism.and terrorism.

Enemy images in films and comics are Enemy images in films and comics are contributing to widespread racism, contributing to widespread racism,

creating negative stereotypes.creating negative stereotypes.

Enemy images distort our Enemy images distort our thinking by influencing thinking by influencing

cognitive processes such as cognitive processes such as attention, memory and attention, memory and

attribution. attribution.

In 2004, there are 35 low intensity wars, 40 In 2004, there are 35 low intensity wars, 40

million refugees and displaced persons and million refugees and displaced persons and 20% of the world’s population lives in absolute 20% of the world’s population lives in absolute poverty. Enemy images are used to justify the poverty. Enemy images are used to justify the

violence of war and oppression. violence of war and oppression.

While conflict and enmity have many While conflict and enmity have many sources – political, economic, religious sources – political, economic, religious

and so on, they have also and so on, they have also psychological causes. One of the most psychological causes. One of the most significant is the exaggerated image of significant is the exaggerated image of the enemy and the exaggeration of his the enemy and the exaggeration of his

negative characteristics.negative characteristics.

Create an enemyCreate an enemy- dehumanization step - dehumanization step

by stepby stepThe enemy is described as The enemy is described as - “your unconscious shadow”- “your unconscious shadow”- full of greed, hatred, carelessness, crueltyfull of greed, hatred, carelessness, cruelty- not an individualnot an individual- never smiling, hoping or lovingnever smiling, hoping or loving- a skeleton, beast, insect, vermina skeleton, beast, insect, vermin- accompanied by devils, demons and other evil accompanied by devils, demons and other evil

creatures of your nightmarescreatures of your nightmares

As he seems totally inferior, inhuman and extremely As he seems totally inferior, inhuman and extremely dangerous,dangerous,

you can now kill him without guilt, slaughter him you can now kill him without guilt, slaughter him without shame.without shame.

““us” versus “the enemy”us” versus “the enemy”expressions used by the American press during expressions used by the American press during

the Gulf War 1991the Gulf War 1991

Our soldiers areOur soldiers are

professionalprofessional

confidentconfident

cautiouscautious

loyalloyal

resoluteresolute

bravebrave

young knights of the young knights of the skysky

Their “militiamen” areTheir “militiamen” are

brain-washedbrain-washed

desperatedesperate

cowardlycowardly

blindly obedientblindly obedient

ruthlessruthless

fanaticalfanatical

bastards of Baghdadbastards of Baghdad

man-eater, rapists, child-murdererman-eater, rapists, child-murderer

an insect, snake, etc, an insect, snake, etc, etcetc

Why do we (US) “need” an opponent?Why do we (US) “need” an opponent?

- Thinking in opposites such as “good” and “bad” - Thinking in opposites such as “good” and “bad” are important for one’s identity formation and are important for one’s identity formation and decision-making processesdecision-making processes

- Having an opponent strengthens a sense of - Having an opponent strengthens a sense of belonging to a family/ group/ nation that belonging to a family/ group/ nation that distinguishes between “us and them” (ingroup distinguishes between “us and them” (ingroup and outgroup)and outgroup)

Strategies for Critical Film AnalysisStrategies for Critical Film Analysis

Objective ObservationObjective Observation

Describe what you see in a film – avoid personal feelings or Describe what you see in a film – avoid personal feelings or interpretations. interpretations.

Subjective ObservationSubjective Observation Describe your personal feelings, associations, and judgments about a Describe your personal feelings, associations, and judgments about a

film. Always anchor your subjective response in something that is seen. film. Always anchor your subjective response in something that is seen.

KnowledgeKnowledge List your prior knowledge of the film’s depiction of subjects, people, and List your prior knowledge of the film’s depiction of subjects, people, and

events based on your own experience, education, assumptions, and events based on your own experience, education, assumptions, and intuitions.intuitions.

Ask yourself What questions does this film raise? What else do you need Ask yourself What questions does this film raise? What else do you need to know?to know?

References:

www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002707.php

www.adc.org/index.php?id=283

www.metimes.com/Opinion/2008/06/17/arab_culture_and_muslim_ stereotypes/5948/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Arabs_and_Muslims

cremesti.com/amalid/books/Reel_Bad_Arabs/reel_bad_arabs.htm

http://www.youtube.com/ for videos

Thank you