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Film and Discussion July 2007
On Sunday 8th July we screened "Reel Bad
Arabs" ( See synopsis below ) and another good turnout saw over twenty
people enjoying a film which generated a lively discussion afterwards.
After giving their initial impressions of the film the discussion
broadened out into a discussion of how stereotypes are cultivated and
used as political tools for dividing and ruling people. As well as this
other questions raised were about parliamentary democracy and autocracy
with regard to the character of western and Arab states and other
questions regarding the motivation of Arab actors portraying negative
stereoytpes of their own people.All in all it was another good evening!
"Reel Bad Arabs"
This
groundbreaking documentary dissects a slanderous aspect of cinematic
history that has run virtually unchallenged form the earliest days of
silent film to today's biggest Hollywood blockbusters. Featuring
acclaimed author Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film explores a long line of
degrading images of Arabs--from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens
to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists"--along the way
offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic
images, their development at key points in US history, and why they
matter so much today. Shaheen shows how the persistence of these images
over time has served to naturalize prejudicial attitudes toward Arabs
and Arab culture, in the process reinforcing a narrow view of
individual Arabs and the effects of specific US domestic and
internationl policies on their lives. By inspiring critical thinking
about the social, political, and basic human consequences of leaving
these Hollywood caricatures unexamined, the film challenges viewers to
recognize the urgent need for counter-narratives that do justice to the
diversity and humanity of Arab people and the reality and richness of
Arab history and culture.
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