In The Name of Allah The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Larbi Ben M'Hidi University, Oum El Bouaghi Faculty of Letters and Languages Department of English Movie Industry,Public Opinion, and the Making of Foreign Policy: Syriana (2005) and Body of Lies (2008)

In modern world where the role of media is central, the image of reality can be manipulated to misrepresent the actual facts.

 For many years, American motion pictures promulgating distored images about Middle Easterns by mocking them on screens and present them as savages, uncivilized and villians.

Nowadays, Movie industry went beyond its traditional aims to include propagandist ones through creating negative images against the Arabs and Muslims to influence the Public Opinion

The image of Arabs and Muslims became more aggressive after 9/11 attacks. they projected as “terrorist” posing a threat to the western global security.

Aim of research  To detect the Existance of ‘otherness’ and symbolism in the two movies Syriana and Body of Lies.  The real motives behind misrepresentation of Middle Easterners in American movies.  The relationship between movie industry and the American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Research questions How did 9/11 attacks help in changing the image of Arabs and Muslims in American movies? How do Hollywood movies attempt to break from the classical stereotyping of Arabs and Muslims? To what extent movies were succesfull in effecting Western Public opinion? What is the realtionship between the movie industry and the American foreign policy in the Middle East?

Methodology 1. The Descriptive-Historical approach. 2. The Qualitative Approach 3. The Analytical Approach

Chapters’ division

Chapter One: The Movie Industry, Public Opinion and the Making of Foreign Policy

.I. The Movie Industry 1. The Development of the Movie Industry. 2. The Significance of the Movie Industry. 3. Genral Overview about Stereotyping. 4. American Orientalism and the Image of Arab-Muslims.

II. The Impact of Movie Industry on the Public Opinion 1. The Role of Motion Pictures. 2. Positive Portrayal of Arab and Muslims. 3. Negative Portrayal of Arabs and Muslims. 4. Categories of Generalization in the American Movies.

III. The Making of the American Foreign Policy in the Middle East 1. The American-Middle Eastern Relations. 2. American Movie Industry and Foreign Policy in the Middle East. 3. Orientalist Discourse in the Declaration of ‘War on Terror’’ 4. ‘Otherness’ in the American Politics and Movie Industry.

ChapteTwo: The Representation of Arabs and Muslims in the American Movies: Syriana and Body of Lies

I.Syriana (2005) 1. The Main Cast of the Movie. 2. Plot Description. 3. Analysis of the Movie. 4. Critics Meet Syriana.

II. Body of Lies (2008) 1.The Main Cast of the Movie. 2. Plot Description. 3. Analysis of the Movie. 4. Critics Meet Body of Lies.

General Conclusion

This research confirms that most of American movies intended to cover Islam and Arab- Muslims in an extremely undesirable context through stereotyping and othering them.

This study also disclosed that American movie idustry plays a significance role in projecting the American foreign policy through affecting the Public opinion in order to achieve its imperialistic interests.

Thank You