negative depiction of muslims in hollywood

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The moving caravan of overused stereotypes has been traveling behind the camera for centuries now. It has adopted the culture and color of everywhere it has been, but the final print of this reel project is black and white. Hollywood over the years, has continued to misrepresent the enriched Arab culture and the religion of Islam and it’s people with degrading stereotypes shown in movies which a tremendous amount of viewers watch, questioning the integrity of arabs and muslims. I have been researching this topic due to the complexity of power behind these images we see throughout movies. The question bounces around in my head and I have a hard time understanding why the same stereotypes are continuously used, over and over again. It’s proof that orientalism still exists in modern day, and it affects how people may see Arabs and muslims. The term "Orientalism" refers to patronizing western attitudes towards Middle Eastern, Asian and North African societies. Edward Said’s publication Orientalism (1978), talks about the European Orientals drawing a line between them and the orients. The images we’ve inherited of those from the Middle East dates back to the times of the European travelers who explored many countries including the middle east and informed others using paintings, poems and stories. These were later fabricated over time and transmitted to us. Dr. Jack Shaheen, a devoted internationalist and humanitarian talks about the existence of Orientalism today, especially in Hollywood, where these stereotypical images are still being used to portray Arabs and Muslims. As an avid watcher of family guy, a show known for it’s raunchy humor, I never really looked at the show as entertainment. However, after reading about orientalism... ... middle of paper ... ... be shattered when she sees how Jasmine is treated by the men in her life, at least until her prince shows up. The adults participating aren’t even concerned of what these kids, and their own subconscious mind sinks in. It’s a disney movie, a platform of kids movies, how could it possibly have a negative impact right? Wrong. It does. Maybe not in the first viewing, or immediately, but overtime it does. One movie at a time, each scene that projects these stereotypes, either in form of the faint laughter as one watches family guy, or the gripping, edge of the seat scene in the action flick where the terrorist is about to blow something up until the protagonist saves the day. The moving Caravan is still traveling through different reels and screens. One individual may see it as black and white whereas another may be aware of the truth and see the color it possesses.

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