This is a part of my undergraduate thesis paper which covers the misrepresentation of Muslims in the media. The sections I’ve covered/working on are Orientalism and its history in the United States and Muslims in cable news. A very central theme of the paper is orientalism so that’s something that is vital when discussing Muslim portrayal in Hollywood. I’ve already introduced the concept, so you don’t have to but it is important to keep the section themed around it/discuss it. The topics I’d like you to discuss are:
1) does tv/film have any effect on societal views?
2) Early Hollywood Muslim or Arab depiction
3) typical portrayal of Muslims nowadays;
I identified four common trends of Muslim characterization in Hollywood: they are for the most part impressively rich, they are barbaric and uncivilized, they are sex-driven with an affinity for white subjection, and they take pleasure in terrorism acts. The portrayal of Muslims in the last half century has evolved slightly, but their depiction revolves around these four primitive misconceptions. I would really appreciate it if you could expand on this.
4) How is this image harmful?
5) Counter-representation (who are some Muslim figures in Hollywood who have fought back against the image of Muslims in Hollywood? for example Hasan Minhaj)
If there is anything additional you would like to add, please feel free to do so if it fits well with the topic. And please please be sure to discuss orientalism and why this othering takes place. If you have any questions or need clarification on something, please reach out to me. Thank you.
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