A Tale As Old As Time..
[ mood : Numb ]
[ listening to : Ziad Rahbany - Shi Ajeeb ]
I won’t act like a story teller, nor this will be another bedtime story.. But for all of us, who were kids once in their lifetimes, you might remember the following quote..
Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place..
Where the caravan camels roam..
Where they cut off your ear..
If they don’t like your face..
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home..
This song has been played as a theme song for Disney’s Aladdin, back in 1992-1993.. Playing those words over and over world wide, not knowing what consequences it may launch in the future.. All under the terms “Children Entertainment”.. I guess that’s one child cruelty the UN failed to catch back then..
Yes, recent movements have protested against this, but allow me to say this..
YOU THINK?? Of all the time you had when you bought that movie for your kids, NOW you pick it up and tag it with a “NO NO” sign??
If we look back, we’d say, it’s just another children song, they’re making fun of a stereotype, no big deal..
But, I think the West themselves choose to differ..
WASHINGTON – Songs with violent lyrics increase aggression related thoughts and emotions and this effect is directly related to the violence in the lyrics, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association (APA). The findings, appearing in the May issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, contradicts popular notions of positive catharsis or venting effects of listening to angry, violent music on violent thoughts and feelings.
In a series of five experiments involving over 500 college students, researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services examined the effects of seven violent songs by seven artists and eight nonviolent songs by seven artists. The students listened to the songs and were given various psychological tasks to measure aggressive thoughts and feelings. One such task involved participants classifying words that can have both aggressive and nonaggressive meanings, such as rock and stick.
To control for factors not related to the content of the lyrics, the violent and nonviolent songs were sung by the same artists and were in the same musical style in three of the experiments. In the two other experiments, the researchers tested the arousal properties of the songs to make sure the violent-lyric effects were not due to differences in arousal. Also, individual personality differences related to hostility were assessed and controlled. The study also included songs with humorous lyrics to see how humor interacted with violent song lyrics and aggressive thoughts.
Now, a question hovers over this blog..
How long has this been going? I don’t know if you were living on the moon for the past century, but this, and millions more, can be found after a closer look.. I won’t be surprised to find, very soon, a Disney movie on Arab Terrorists, like the Nazi Disney Movie made back in late 1940′s.. Or this new movie, Hidalgo, that speaks of FICTIONAL events of an American cowboy racing with bedouins in the Arab peninsula, beating them in their own game “Superiority Complex +1″.. Another pedestal to add on this long lasting hate for the Arabs, and brain wash of the world media..
And guess what, a little piece of information, those same kids that listened to that song back then? are now driving tanks around Iraq..
The war on us has been set, mentally, for ages now.. And now it’s time to excute, with that as fuel.. It has been launched in many forms, and in many fronts, all for the sake of an ideology..
I think little Georgy was right after all..
“We’re in for a long and difficult war. It will be conducted on many fronts. But as long as it takes, we will prevail.” -George W. Bush Jr, post 9/11
Am not sure on the “Prevailing” part.. I’ll go check its definition in the new political dictionary, putting in mind what his definition of “victory in iraq” has done to that dictionary.. 
Yours,
Lou..
Join the Conversation
Since the 80′s many Hollywood and Disney films portray Arabs or “the others” as terrorists – the war between the “civilized West” and the “barbaric Orient” has existed LONG before 9/11 which makes going to war with us so much easier. Most Americans in my politics class considered Iran and Turkey to be “Arab” countries, and kept claiming that the whole “Arab region” are plotting their and Israel’s demise… sometimes people’s ignorance is just plain offensive, and we have films and cartoons to add to these shameful stereotypes that we unfortunately have to put up with almost on a daily basis, either abroad or via the mainstream media.
You might want to look at this post for some examples.
Oh, wow. You’re really having to dig deep to feel victimized today, huh?
BTW: you’re saying the part about plotting Israel’s demise is a Hollywood fabrication?
Guess CNN has you convinced that we’re all in secret tents mapping out your destruction. A lot Arabs are disgusted at Israel’s grave human rights abuses, myself included, but most of us don’t wish to see the country dismantled or its nation disappear. We wish to see things like illegal settlements, harassing checkpoints, etc put to an end.
That said…
Where is Edward Said when you need him?
This isn’t about being a “victim,” please stop jumping to that silly conclusion for once in your presence here, this is about turning everything into “us” and “them” and “good” and “evil” when both sides are suffering in one way or the other. Look at these Hollywood videos posted above your comment, to you that doesn’t mean anything at all, that the “enemy” is always “the Orient”?
Glad to hear it. Unfortunately the people who command your armies have a different view.
For once? I don’t recall ever saying anything like that (playing the victim) before. Could you refresh my memory?
Not really. In the first place only two films were cited, but I wouldn’t have been impressed by a list of dozens. I could hand pick a selection of movies to show that the enemy is “always” the Apache Indians. Or the Third Reich. Or the Empire of Japan. Or the British. Or Irish terrorists. Or the USSR. Or the PRC. Or the Confederacy. Or tobacco companies or railroads or motorcycle gangs or corporate polluters or space aliens, etc. etc.
As someone who grew up watching American movies and TV the impression I received was that every part of the world contained both friends and enemies. That in every nation/culture (including our own) there were “bad guys” who should be defeated and “good guys” should be championed. Is that a bad message to be sending?
If we were all in an American movie right now, Esra’a, you’d be one of the good guys.
Opps: sorry. In referring to a long list of movies you meant in the other article you linked to. Yes, I did check it out and my point about hand picking a list still applies.
Sorry for the multiple posts, but one more thing, rather important.
I don’t recall any movies where the Arab villain was the bad guy because he was Arabian or Muslim. He was the villain because he was greedy or power-mad.
Really? Who is that? You do realize that you shouldn’t lump all of us (i.e, “your” armies) because we all come from different countries that employ different policies concerning Israel and the USA. Our point here is that these movies and images portray people in the Middle East like a bunch of turds under one turban-wearing dude who is like, on a camel, preaching hatred and the destruction of all things civil. Are we wrong for finding this utterly disturbing?
Yeah, but the USA isn’t fighting in Japan right now. Or in Britain. Or killing anyone who smokes tobacco. The US army is in Iraq, Afghanistan, soon perhaps Iran, killing innocent civilians in the process – unintentionally or not, these movies are justifying these wars. War crimes are being committed today under the banner of “democracy,” it’s nothing we should dismiss as “heroic.”
Have you ever seen Frank Capra’s “Why We Fight”?
Don’t tell me “you shouldn’t lump all of us” after you say “going to war with us,” “stereotypes that we,” “We wish to see,” etc. This discussion is about a stereotypical portrayal of “the whole ‘Arab region’†and everyone — including you — has treated it this way. We can continue that way (makes sense) or break this into numerous sub-discussions: one for American films about Iran, one for American films about Egypt, one for American films about…
Nope: you’re wrong for claiming it’s a long standing and pervasive representation.
I know of the WWII Frank Capra series of films you mentioned, but haven’t seen them. Did the Middle East get a lot of bad press in them? I’d rather stick to the overall representation in film rather than make lists: you name one, I name one, you name one, I name one… That’s not going to get us very far.
You also skipped the most important points:
Grumpy,
When I say “us,” I mean people. When you say “armies,” that represents different governments with different wills and policies. Our governments don’t represent us. You read this blog and you don’t even get that? Do you see people here praising their governments?
In other words:
You are not talking about people anymore, when you say “your armies,” you’re talking about a military, a system which we don’t SHARE, contrary to popular belief. You imply that we automatically agree upon any “military actions” merely because they’re associated with our government, which for the 10th time, don’t represent us.
Hi and welcome to 5 posts ago!
The examples posted couldn’t possibly be any clearer, where the “greedy” and “power-mad” IS portrayed as ‘Arab’ (please don’t say Arabian, it’s too Hollywood) or Muslim (Aladdins’ implications that it’s barbaric). Look at their accents, physical appearances, and cultures. That is the “Orient.” That is the “enemy.”
Here are more examples -
Casting ‘the enemy:’
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4TICD0npUU
And Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LvKjsCkp0o
You can even try texts:
Or worse, are we gonna have people justifying it now?! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.
No you don’t: you consistently used “we” and “us” to refer to middle easterners.
Of course I get it: what difference does it make? Does it matter to the Iranian-Americans currently in jail on trumped up charges that the IRC’s government is not representative of the ALL the people? I emphasize “ALL” because there is some public support for even the most repressive governments.
Nope. Like I said, in an American movie you’d be the good guys: the ones who risk their lives opposing repressive regimes to secure human rights for their fellow countrymen.
Do you not get the point that greedy and power-mad is NOT portrayed as exclusively Arab? Do you not get the point that not all Arabs are portrayed as greedy and power-mad? Do you not get the point repeated here for the third time:
Have there been movies where the bad guys were Arabs? Hell, yes! So what? There are also movies where the bad guys are US Senators (I just saw one last night). Does that mean Hollywood is deliberately dehumanizing the US Senate to mentally prepare the American public for war against Washington?
I won’t use the term “Arabian” again, and I meant no insult when I used it before. I do try to step carefully but it’s especially tough in this particular thread.
And I didn’t imply otherwise! My statement still stands:
Arab people, who else am I talking about here, the Chinese? “Your people” is one thing, and “your armies” is another. Saying “your armies” means you don’t know the difference between Arab governments. And Arab governments are all incredibly different, making different decisions and having difference political stances. What do you know about the Bahraini army for example and why did you say “your armies” when what you’re really implying is the Palestinian government? What the hell does that have to do with me, do you know? Absolutely nothing! This is the things that just drive us insane, really. One Arab country makes a move and fingers are pointed at everybody. Hell in my class I got people insisting that “you want nukes!” when I’m not even Iranian for crying out loud! What does that say to you, you really mean to tell me that you aren’t disturbed or alarmed? Or maybe even embarrassed?
Yes, I totally buy that. It’s not like they mock our cultures or our religion or our accents or anything, not at all, we are portrayed as the sons and daughters of true progress and development! I am totally thankful for American films, who continue to band-aid our self-esteems! I shall never be insecure again for as long as Hollywood exist.
In all seriousness, can you please name me one Hollywood film where an Arab/Iranian/Pakistani (they’re all the same no?) was portrayed as a hero?
“On Wings of Eagles” Not the old Paul Newman one about Israel, the more recent one about Iran. Some of the Iranians were good guys, some were bad guys. I’ve said that repeatedly (both good and bad in every culture), but apparently uselessly.
I’m through, Esra’a. If you want to think Hollywood is the enemy then go for it.
Were they heroes? No. Having a few “good guys” doesn’t excuse this hideous misrepresentation, I’m certainly not going to dismiss this just because you know a movie where a couple of Iranians were “good fellas.”
I really don’t see much other than denial from your argument. Do you know that movie they made about Bahrain, not too long ago, the “Princess and the Marine,” based on a true and very retarded story, where we were still living in the desert and our biggest mall was a freakin’ hole in the ground? Yeah, that is pretty lame. And it’s embarrassing that it still continues to this day, when Bahrain is developing itself as the fastest growing economy in the region next to the UAE and China. Yet my American classmates ask me “do you have buses there? Is it possible to expose your hair?”
You don’t expect me to be pissed? Do you really think these Hollywood films aren’t contributing at all to this image? Sorry, but that’s naive.
And who is calling Hollywood the enemy? Many people would agree it’s boring for reasons such as… oh I don’t know, spending millions on airhead chick flicks that could be better spent on more productive entertainment or educational documentaries that help eliminated these stereotypes instead of feeding it.
No one’s declaring war on Hollywood, we are criticizing its depiction of Arabs/Iranians/Anything from the Eastern hemisphere, and we have every right to do that. It’s our image being destroyed – it’s our regional wars being justified. We won’t excuse it because the potential harm is huge and we can see that from the opinions some Americans express about the war in Iraq…. it’s seriously disturbing. God have mercy, I never know what to expect next, or if it can even get any worse than this. Not only does it happen but now we have people justifying/denying that it’s taking place on a large scale.
“I don’t recall any movies where the Arab villain was the bad guy because he was Arabian or Muslim. He was the villain because he was greedy or power-mad.”
Me neither.
Bad guys in movies have to be “different” … They have an accent, look oriental etc. Maybe you notice the Arab types and I notice the European types.
Just a thought.
You guys are right – these people must be Irish. Can’t believe I missed it.
Al Saeed said it best in the article Esra linked to from the Gulf Daily News. I wholeheartedly conquer with Louai, Esra, and Al Saeed on this one. Im glad it got pointed out.
LOL
A public opinion teacher did research on this in the USA amongst children and youth, the name escapes me! It’s way too late for me to try and remember. Read this though, an academic research titled “the Construction of Arabs as the Enemy”:
http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327825mcs0702_2
It takes a lot about speeches but has some things about what you guys are referring to as well.