You guys are right – these people must be Irish. Can’t believe I missed it.

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.

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.

“On Wings of Eagles” Not the old Paul Newman one about Israel, the more recent one about Iran

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.

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.

No you don’t: you consistently used “we” and “us” to refer to middle easterners.

And I didn’t imply otherwise! My statement still stands:

When I say “us,” I mean people.

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?

Nope. Like I said, in an American movie you’d be the good guys

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?

When I say “us,” I mean people.

No you don’t: you consistently used “we” and “us” to refer to middle easterners.

Our governments don’t represent us. You read this blog and you don’t even get that?

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.

Do you see people here praising their 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 of these Hollywood movies, where the “greedy” and “power-mad” IS portrayed as ‘Arab’ … or Muslim?

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:

That in every nation/culture (including our own) there were “bad guys” who should be defeated and “good guys” should be championed.

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.

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:

Does Hollywood purposefully continue to paint such an image of the Arab world and keep the American public believing it?

Or worse, are we gonna have people justifying it now?! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.

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.

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.

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.”

Are we wrong for finding this utterly disturbing?

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:

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?

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.