Movie Analysis Essay on Reel Bad Arabs

Introduction

Jack Shaheen in his documentary Reel Bad Arabs discusses how the United States and Hollywood, in general, have created a negative perception about Muslims and Arabs. Arabs are portrayed as being cruel to women, ungrateful, unlawful, greedy, inhuman to the other faiths and retrogressive. Arab women are depicted as weak and ready to suffer for their "criminal" husbands and sons. The Arab religious belief and their way of dressing are also other aspects of the Arabs that have been stereotyped. The term "Muslim" in American society is directly associated with violence. It is for this reason that even after years of interaction between the western nations and the Arabs, having an Arab name becomes an issue of interest to airport officials. The rise and growth of propaganda were contributed mostly by the 9/11 incident. Following this attack, the entire world stereotypes Arabs Muslims as sympathizers of terror activities.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The film explores further into situations and American media portrayals that have led to the increased propaganda about the Arab and Muslim society. Jack Shaheen aims to challenge the existing societal thinking by presenting detailed examples of the misinterpretations of the Arab and Muslim way of life. The American media, in general, have a negative depiction of the Arabs. There are several Hollywood movies that this negative light on Arab culture. Babel is one of the films that to show a contrary representation of the Arabs.

Other Hollywood films such as Aladdin and father of the bride have a created a perception among the public that Arabs are ill-minded and retrogressive people. Dr. Shaheen expresses his dissatisfaction of the ideas put forward by the directors of these films who seem to capture the attention of their audience in the negative light. In most of their ideas, they tend to portray America to be in control of all sectors and always being on top of the world. The worst part about these portrayals of the Arabs is that the media has made it a culture to broadcast these movies at least once in a week causing a great rift between the Arabs and other Westerners.

An interesting point brought up by Dr. Shaheen in the documentary is about the disrespect of the Arab American. The portrayal of Arab women in the media makes people treat them differently from their men counterparts. Women are mostly victimized by being treated as weak and poor. On the other hand, men are seen as rich husbands who are malicious and perverted beings who readily spend their money on other women. For this reason, Arab women feel disrespected and unappreciated. Many media portrayals show how American women try to free their fellow Arab women from oppressive marriages and their brutal sons. It is very unfortunate that Hollywood does not focus on successful Arab women who may act as role models for the women that are in the same situation. Another portrayal of women that leads to women being disrespected is shown in the movie Cleopatra. In this film, an Arab woman is a beautiful leader without brains. As a woman, she had to undergo certain experiences that most men leaders don't experience. What leads to Arab women being disrespected is how women are portrayed in the film as using their sexuality to attain power over men.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Shaheen presents his argument about the stereotypes that Arabs face in American society. In his argument, he vividly describes how the media has for many years misrepresentation the wrong ideas about the Arab and Muslim cultures. It is clear that the perception of the Arabs has to change for these portrayals are mostly inaccurate.

Works Cited

"Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People." 1 Feb. 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko_N4BcaIPY.