Film has become as large a part of American culture as baseball and apple pie and is filled with about as many clichés. Cheesy dialogue, perfect timing and an Arabic villain are staples in the industry.
While the dialogue and the timing might be good for a laugh, the demonization of a people is a much more serious issue, one that Jack Shaheen addresses in his book and film “Reel Bad Arabs” and during his talk and film screening at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center Tuesday night.
“All aspects of our culture project Arabs as the villain,” Shaheen said.
In his book and film, Shaheen looks at the history of how Arabs and Muslims are portrayed in the American media. The negative stereotyping stretches back a long way, longer than many people may have thought.
The image of the evil Arab in film came about over half a century ago and, unlike the stereotypical views of African Americans or Native Americans, never went by the wayside, the film claims.
“They are portrayed as subhuman,” Shaheen said. “It’s disheartening and very dangerous.”
Part of why it is dangerous is the impact the media has on society. It’s not only the media, but government policy as well. Shaheen quoted Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America, saying that,“Washington and Hollywood spring from the same DNA.”
The film also says policies like consistently supporting Israel over Palestine can influence public opinion, similarly to the film industry.
“9/11 was a turning point,” he said. “Muslim Americans were invisible prior to 9/11.”
Although none of the 19 people who allegedly attacked America on 9/11 were American, the number of hate crimes against Americans with Arab roots skyrocketed. After the tragedy, the stereotype of Muslims and Arabs became even more prominent, and what Shaheen calls the “lunatic fringe” came to represent the 1.3 billion people who are a part of the Muslim community.
“We have to remember that Christians, Jews and Muslims are all children of the book,” he said. “Peace is essential in all three.”
While the decades of stereotyping seems daunting to try to overcome, Hollywood is starting to make advances.
“The stereotype is so widespread, it’s invisible,” Shaheen said. “They take a long time to wither away, but if you humanize the group, the stereotype gradually diminishes.”
Films like Oscar nominated “Syriana” and “Kingdom of Heaven,” which display Arabs and Muslims as people, not stereotypes, can help break down the image that has been built up for years.
Shaheen, who was called personally by George Clooney to consult on “Syriana,” drew in many students, including some who are Arab and Muslim.
“I’ve lived all my life in Saudi Arabia,” said EMU graduate student Nadia Arafan, who is studying interior design. “I came here to study, and the moment I say I’m Saudi Arabian, people put up a wall and not talk to me anymore.”
It’s people like Arafan who see the direct impact of this stereotype in American culture and make the topic such a powerful one.
“I’d heard about a lot of his (Shaheen’s) work,” she said. “I wanted to know what he was going to say about Arabs, what image he would present for Americans.”
Other students came because of their interest in the topic for their studies.
“This is a pressing concern in the United States because of the current wars,” senior EMU political science student Ieuan Angell said. “I hadn’t realized how common the stereotype is in the media.”
While the image goes largely unnoticed by Americans, when they are pointed out, they can say a lot.
“He was a good speaker and the documentary was well done,” Angell said. “He let the images speak for themselves which was nice, it was a lot more persuasive than just talking on the matter.”
The talk was more then academic for Arafan. It touched on her personally as well.
“I hope the world’s mind changes soon and see that Islam is about peace,” she said. “The meaning of Islam is peace. I have the same goals as any girl, any person in general and I hope that they understand that in time.”
Shaheen, a Christian of Arab decent, introduced his film with one simple sentiment.
“I wish to each and everyone of you, peace,” he said. “Peace is so much better than the alternative.”