In addition, Syriana communicates how American political and economic intervention in the region affects daily life as portrayed by Wasim, a young unemployed Pakistani migrant worker, and how inspired the emergence of certain forms of radical Islamic groups (Syriana). In giving voice to subjugated groups that try to resist power abuse, the film is able to criticize certain aspects of American foreign policy in the Middle East by showing the business side of oil, and how the United States is not always the hero in interactions with the East, contrary to the media’s efforts to make it appear otherwise. This is depicted right from the opening, which focuses on a crowd of men on their way to work as the camera pans on their somber faces in the …show more content…
In addition, the employment of Arabic language, especially colloquial Arabic, helps focus the audience on the internal political and social intricacies of the Middle East. The incorporation also highlights the effort on part of the filmmakers to break away from traditional presentations of the “Orient,” by presenting personable accounts of individuals such as Wasim, which helps demonstrate how the stereotypical portrayals of Arabs may have changed in the film industry. The effort made towards more culturally and historically appropriate depictions of the Middle East supports Irwin’s belief that the field has progressed and knowledge has increased, against Said’s insistence that Orientalism has remained frozen in place (Kamiya). However, it is important to keep in mind that Syriana is not representative of all films depicting the Middle East and that other films may depict Orientalism in a different …show more content…
In other words, everything is filtered and depends primarily on the interpretation or what the interpreter writes. Thus it is important that we place into consideration the fact that Syriana was released after the September 11 attacks and that in comparison to other movies made during the same period, the movie places more focus in challenging the misconceptions and prejudice about Arabs and Muslims. Overall, it can be said to represent a more realistic depiction of the historical, political, and the cultural complexities of the Arab-Islamic world. The fact that it gives nearly objective representation of several different aspects of U.S.- Middle East relations and is able to recognize the modernity in the region is crucial, because in the post 9/11 universe it is becoming increasingly crucial to understand the global community especially with the ever-escalating levels of tension between different cultures and nations. However, we still have to acknowledge that the movie is a Westernized take on the Middle East, despite the well intentions of those producing it, subliminal and unconscious misperceptions can still exist. In addition, when looking at world at large today there still exists misunderstandings and misconceptions, especially those fueled by the media, however this
...ome to us at an interesting time, before the Revolution, 40 percent of Tehran movie theaters were showing pornography. The function of this office is purification as well as promotion for the arts.” The first part notions the Western stereotype of the Orient since the same as the time when it was discovered, but now the people of the Orient realize the stereotypes and are changing the way they see themselves because of these stereotypes. It is only by correcting these assumptions, stereotypes, and misconceptions of the Orient at the heart of society today, the media can Orientalism be fixed. The Eastern people must be allowed to sympathize in movies and films to humanize them and have intimate interactions. Otherwise, the Orient will be continued to be known incorrectly as a place with people who are without reason, screaming, protesting, and in swarming mobs.
Joyce, James. “Araby”. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Eds. R.V. Cassill and Richard Bausch. Shorter Sixth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2000. 427 - 431.
Movies, one can argue, are one of America’s greatest pastimes. Unfortunately, after 9/11, films have become increasingly prejudiced against American Muslims. In movies Muslims are frequently portrayed negatively. According to James Emery, a professor of Anthropology, Hollywood profits off of “casting individuals associated with specific negative stereotypes”. This is due to the fact that viewers automatically link characters with their clichéd images (Emery). For Muslims, the clichéd image is of the violent fundamentalist, who carried out the terroristic attacks on 9/11. As a result, the main stereotypes involved in movies display Muslims as extremists, villains, thieves, and desert nomads. An example of a movie that has such a negative character role for Muslims in film is Disney’s cartoon Aladdin, depict...
Through these two main characters, we are able to see how not everyone has a religious dispute and how no matter your religion there is always a place for love and that is what most people do not see when they think of the Middle East. This book can show how when looking at the Middle East, there isn’t always wars or dispute but underneath all the stereotypes, the people do get along. It is understood how the majority of today’s society may think that all terrorist come from the Middle East, with hundreds of attacks happening each year each leading back to an Israeli or
Joyce, James. “Araby.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter Eighth Edition. Eds. Jerome Beaty, Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W.Norton.
Critics have already begun a heated debate over the success of the book that has addressed both its strengths and weaknesses. The debate may rage for a few years but it will eventually fizzle out as the success of the novel sustains. The characters, plot, emotional appeal, and easily relatable situations are too strong for this book to crumble. The internal characteristics have provided a strong base to withstand the petty attacks on underdeveloped metaphors and transparent descriptions. The novel does not need confrontations with the Middle East to remain a staple in modern reading, it can hold its own based on its life lessons that anyone can use.
The film Lawrence of Arabia illustrations the experiences of a man’s exploration of places he has never been before, both on the globe and within his own mind. The leading role is sent to the Middle East during World War One, his experiences there are display disputes that are still prevalent in today’s world. The issues dealt with by the Arabians in the movie and the continued problems in present day Middle East are consequences of European domination. This control is executed through the idea of imperialism or, a countries attempt to expand their power, usually done by means of colonization, in an effort to strengthen their own countries livelihood. The conquest of Arabia by the British was the beginning of the political issues today in the
Joyce, James. "Araby." 1914. Literature and Ourselves. Henderson, Gloria, ed. Boston, Longman Press. 2009. 984-988.
Joyce, James . “Araby.” Literature: An Introduction to Writing. Roberts, Edgar V. and Jacobs,. Henry E. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
It is the fact that Arabs are mostly portrayed as terrorists in the last few decades. Since the emergence of the Arab-threat in the 1980s, the audience has been craving for the action films featuring Arabs as the main antagonists. However, many Arab characters can be found in the earlier Hollywood films and, unsurprisingly, they were the uncivilised lunatics even back then. In the following chapters, the representation of Arabs from different time periods will be analysed. 4.1.
Lawson, Fred H. "Syria." Politics & society in the contemporary Middle East. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2010. 411 - 434. Print.
Joyce, James. “Araby.” Literature: The Human Experience. Abcarian, Richard et al.,. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 92-96
This documentary examined a family who lived in Syria, eventually fleeing to Germany in search of a better life, without their father who was taken by ISIS. This family consisted of Sara, 4; Farah, 7; Helen, 10; Mohammed, 12; the mother, Hala; and the father, Abu Ali. They lived in a town named Aleppo located in Syria. Abu Ali was first an engineer and then became part of the rebel group in Syria when the war began. The children and the mother’s lives revolved around their father.
Tablet & Pen. “Literary Landscape From The Middle East”. Reza Aslan. Copyright 2011 www.Norton&Company,Inc. “ The Future of Arabic Language”. Khalil Gibran. Pg 6.
"Araby" is a short complex story by Joyce that I believe is a reflection of his own life as a boy growing up in Dublin. Joyce uses the voice of a young boy as a narrator; however the narrator seems much more mature then the boy in the story. The story focuses on escape and fantasy; about darkness, despair, and enlightenment: and I believe it is a retrospective of Joyce's look back at life and the constant struggle between ideals and reality.