1. ‘Real Bad Arabs’ The Image Of Arabs In The American Media Presenter: Abdulelah Aljabri

2. Presentation Out-Line Introduction: 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 Analysis The Image Of Arabs In The American Media

3. Introduction

4. Arabs are the people of the 23 Arab countries of the Meddle East & North Africa. They speak Arabic. Who Are the Arab People?

5. 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.

6. Images From The Arab World

7. 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 Industry TV Networks, News & Entertainment Magazines Novels Music and Entertainment Web sites American Media (World Wide Influence)

8. Stereotypes in American Media Racism is : Racism 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. Stereotypes about particular ethnic groups occur when people believe, perpetuate, and characterize all people in a certain group to share certain traits. Psychologists have noted the role stereotypes play in human memory. When meeting a new person, for example, people may combine their firsthand perceptions of that person—appearance, personality, intelligence—with stereotypes they have formed about similar people. - Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology Stereotyping: Stereotypes about particular ethnic groups occur when people believe, perpetuate, and characterize all people in a certain group to share certain traits. Psychologists have noted the role stereotypes play in human memory. When meeting a new person, for example, people may combine their firsthand perceptions of that person—appearance, personality, intelligence—with stereotypes they have formed about similar people. - Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology The media has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, particularly regarding ethnic groups and women. The media has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, particularly regarding ethnic groups and women. Films produce, reproduce, and/or legitimize forms of thought and feeling in society. Society, in turn, is affected and shaped by film.

9. Stereotypes in American Media African-American stereotypes: Television and Hollywood films have historically featured blacks in demeaning roles—those of servants, drug abusers, common criminals, and threats to white society. Asian-American stereotypes: Asian characters are often depicted as exotic or mysterious, as martial arts fighters, and as hard-working. Arab-American stereotypes: Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners generally have been vilified in Hollywood productions, and are often depicted as a faceless enemy. Typical roles in American popular culture also include rich men, bombers, and belly dancers. Other stereotypes?

10. 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!

11. 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 >?

12. Think about it. Does the media affect our perceptions of others? Shaheen (2002): Portrayal of Arabs in American comic books 1=evil (149), 2=common people (39), 3=good (30)

13. Arabs As The Enemy

14. Islam and fundamentalism are often portrayed as going hand in hand, suggesting that all Muslims are radical fundamentalists associated with violence and terrorism. Enemy images in films and comics are contributing to widespread racism, creating negative stereotypes.

15. Enemy images distort our thinking by influencing cognitive processes such as attention, memory and attribution. Enemy images distort our thinking by influencing cognitive processes such as attention, memory and attribution.

16. In 2004, there are 35 low intensity wars, 40 million refugees and displaced persons and 20% of the world’s population lives in absolute poverty. Enemy images are used to justify the violence of war and oppression. In 2004, there are 35 low intensity wars, 40 million refugees and displaced persons and 20% of the world’s population lives in absolute poverty. Enemy images are used to justify the violence of war and oppression.

17. While conflict and enmity have many sources – political, economic, religious and so on, they have also psychological causes. One of the most significant is the exaggerated image of the enemy and the exaggeration of his negative characteristics.

18. Create an enemy - dehumanization step by step The enemy is described as - “your unconscious shadow”  full of greed, hatred, carelessness, cruelty  not an individual  never smiling, hoping or loving  a skeleton, beast, insect, vermin  accompanied by devils, demons and other evil creatures of your nightmares As he seems totally inferior, inhuman and extremely dangerous, you can now kill him without guilt, slaughter him without shame.

19. “us” versus “the enemy” expressions used by the American press during the Gulf War 1991 Our soldiers are Our soldiers areprofessionalconfidentcautiousloyalresolutebrave young knights of the sky Their “militiamen” are brain-washeddesperatecowardly blindly obedient ruthlessfanatical bastards of Baghdad

21. man-eater, rapists, child-murderer

22. an insect, snake, etc, etc

23. Why do we (US) “need” an opponent? - Thinking in opposites such as “good” and “bad” are important for one’s identity formation and decision- making processes - Thinking in opposites such as “good” and “bad” are important for one’s identity formation and decision- making processes - Having an opponent strengthens a sense of belonging to a family/ group/ nation that distinguishes between “us and them” (ingroup and outgroup) - Having an opponent strengthens a sense of belonging to a family/ group/ nation that distinguishes between “us and them” (ingroup and outgroup)

24. Strategies for Critical Film Analysis Objective Observation Describe what you see in a film – avoid personal feelings or interpretations. Describe what you see in a film – avoid personal feelings or interpretations. Subjective Observation Describe your personal feelings, associations, and judgments about a film. Always anchor your subjective response in something that is seen. Describe your personal feelings, associations, and judgments about a film. Always anchor your subjective response in something that is seen.Knowledge List your prior knowledge of the film’s depiction of subjects, people, and events based on your own experience, education, assumptions, and intuitions. List your prior knowledge of the film’s depiction of subjects, people, and events based on your own experience, education, assumptions, and intuitions. Ask yourself What questions does this film raise? What else do you need to know? Ask yourself What questions does this film raise? What else do you need to know?

25. 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_ 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.comhttp://www.youtube.com/ for videos

26. Thank you