Vilification of Arabs in Hollywood
Published by Haseeb April 13th, 2006 in TelevisionSource: Sulayman’s Blog
Planet of the Arabs (10 min.)
Official Selection at the 2005 SUNDANCE Film Festival
click here to download:
Windows Media Player*
Quicktime*
*Password: “hahmed.com” to extract
Warning: Contains Violence/Foul Language
A trailer-esque montage spectacle of Hollywood’s relentless vilification and dehumanization of Arabs and Muslims.
Inspired by the book Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen
Out of 1000 films that have Arab & Muslim characters (from the year 1896 to 2000) 12 were postive depictions, 52 were even handed and the rest of the 900 and so were negative.
It’s just fustrating to see this…
Sometimes I wonder if this is just another test from Allah
. A test to see who is willing to ignore everything he/she KNOWS that belittles his/her faith, and start BELIEVING in Allah 
blindly. Maybe . . . Perhaps one day muslims might not have “equal” rights which might determine who fallows his faith and is worthy enough of him.
They come to snuff the Rooster, BUT HE AINT GONNA DIE
it should be renamed
planet of Al-Qaeda
Hey anyone ever read Edward Said’s “Orientalism”? I think it explains the western perception of the East quite nicely. Not that it’s an excuse or anything, but the barbaric perception of Arabs has been ingrained in Western society for centuries, look at Dante’s Inferno. Our job as the next generation is to change that. Are we doing enough to show them the better side?
“Orientalism” is overrated
How was this involved in the 2005 Sundance?
I saw this movie on the internet back in the summer of 04
i agree wtih Mujahideen Ryder.
Planet of the Rapes
Starring George W, Bush, Tony Blair, Ariel Sharon, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and King Fahd
hhhmm
to make this movie or not to make it?
Ali C.. care to qualify your statement?
I read some of it.. it was a good explanation, but we need to some updating..
Orientalism is overrated because people treat it like its the Bible.
Thats a typical eurocentric view, Ali… Dont you mean they treat it like its the Quran?
No.
Anyway, let’s look at some simple facts: Edward Said was a white Christian man, and he’s trying to act like he’s some Muslim guy from the Middle East (yes he is of Arab origin, but you wouldn’t know it). There are good points in his book, but its too simply written.
Ali C.
“yes he is of Arab origin, but you wouldn’t know it”
Actually, you would. Edward Said was a Palestinian who lived in the M-E until he was a teenager, some of that time as a refugee whose family had lost it’s home in al-Quds in 1948. He didn’t pretend to be Muslim at all.
And does any of that have to do with his academic work anyway?
Ali I was just making an “Orientalism” related joke. I wasnt arguing with you.
Edward Saids relationship with islam was actually a bit more complicated. I haven’t read the book, just interviews and other peoples views on his book. He was extremely western in his cultural makeup which doesnt stop him from being able to defend the east, nor does it make him in the least bit a bad guy - i’m not some whiny self-hating liberal who loves the entire world outside of western civilization. Overall though Ali is right that Said doesnt present the total picture. He completely overlooks the reaily of the early Jewish Orientalists who either were neutral to Islam or love it so much they converted. Examples include Lepold Weiss who became Muhammad Assad and Lev N. who became Essad Bey. The truth is that the conflict if you would like to refer to it as such, though it isnt civilizational or cultural inspite of what many would like us to believe from both camps is really about economic interests played by political groups in the east and in the west, its not a east vs. west dynamic…my 2 cents anyhows.
The late and great Edward Said, a white Christian man? Obviously you havent heard him talk. Said was open about his background and despite his western training never sold out. “Orientalism” was(authored in the late 1970s) and is an excellent introduction for many westerners, its impact on post-colonial studies cannot be over-stated.
I was reading up on Noah Feldman today and despite my earlier brushing him off as I do much of what Haseeb says when he intially says it…this is largely due to 2 things…Haseeb knows a good thing when he sees it and I happen to denigrate and disregard everything until it proves itself worthy…take it as a cup half full half empty scenario but in any event…he seems quite impressive…i read about some of these guys (noah feldman, samantha powers) and i cant help but think about the magnitude of what they do with their lives compared to just being a professional with an income let alone being some 20 something year old punk who debunks everything in such a faciile way.
Can you imagine Smokey Bear actually does something with his life?
smokey bear: “i’m not some whiny self-hating liberal who loves the entire world outside of western civilization. ”
if thats what you think liberalism is about, i think you might be 12 years old and should stay away from adult matters
Just two words for you Mo R…The Liberal.
Wow very interesting points. A lot of times we forget to smell the flowers, so to speak.
I just wanted to say thanks for the Movie ‘Trailer’. I wish there was a URL where I could actually DL the entire Movie … ‘think the movie has been out a year or so now.
Thanks again for the Movie! Nice of you to allow us to download it.