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Media has been used by both governments and ordinary people to dehumanize so called the other of the world
and enemies during wartime and even in peace time. Beginning in ancient times with the ancient Greeks, Persians, etc.
Dehumanization has led to severe consequences to people in the former colonial, developing world.
From Libya to Algeria, Palestine, Indonesia and China, U.S. mainstream media has dehumanized millions of ordinary
people as it became the new superpower in post world war I atmosphere and pushed for Democracy. From the Monroe Doctrine keeping the European colonial powers
out of Latin America and Caribbean but suppressing self determination for ordinary people of the region during 19th-20th centuries to the recent occupation and destruction of Iraq.
Aggressive Foreign Policy has been justified by pundits, politicians and so called experts on the Middle East, Africa, Asia, etc
on behalf of promoting human rights, womens rights, freedom, peace and Democracy similiar to Europe or U.S. instead of allowing non-Democratic countries to allow it to grow from the ground up.
Through the lens of vilifying anyone challenging American, European and Israeli foreign policies in the Middle East and Africa, numerous pundits have demonised
citizen protests against aggressive foreign policy, horrifying wars, destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine-Israel, Sri Lanka, etc while quoting government officials without challenging
the wars in above countries or examining the history of the colonized world, consequences of disproportional force on civilian populations or exhalation of "fight the terrorists over there."
Politicians and lobbyists, similar to their predecessors with aid from media pundits such as O'Reilly, Daniel Pipes and Glen Beck have continued to
equated Muslims regardless of country, culture, history and hertiage with otherness, orientalism, irrational violence and terrorism.
Guilty by association has left a lasting wound and impression on many
countries who view U.S. foreign policy and silence from western governments as compliancy with the destruction of Iraq, occupation of Palestine, misunderstanding and ignorance
about the troubles and instability numerous African countries. At the same time humor has also served through its sacraism to reveal an unflattering truth about
the ignorance of politicians, reporters and ordinary people when it comes understanding history of Middle East and Africa.
How Not to Write About Africa
Africa Addio: Stereotypes Galore or How Not to Film Africa
Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia, 30th Anniversary of Cambodian Holocaust
Synopsis by Information Clearing House: John Pilger vividly reveals
the brutality and murderous political ambitions of the Pol Pot / Khmer Rouge totalitarian regime
which bought genocide and despair to the people of Cambodia while neighboring countries,
including Australia, shamefully ignored the immense human suffering and unspeakable crimes
that bloodied this once beautiful country. Filmed and produced in 1979. Without music,
some scenes are graphic and violent. Younger viewers have been advised.
Islam, Muslims and non-Western world in pop culture:
Various clips of how Islam, Muslims & non-Western world are portrayed in popular films, video games & TV shows shown on Fox, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, etc.
Many episodes are re aired, rebroadcasted and repeated on TV weekly and online including Saturdays and Sundays throughout the day and evening.
Most TV portrayals of Muslims and non-Western world as a whole have gradually changed over the years.
However humor in popular culture using Comedy (the reigning TV and film genre) to showcase still follows the negative stereotypes of the past in a subtle way
directly and indirectly othering of the Muslim Worlds. However handful of shows, film and series have produced, encouraged and promoted realistic
portrayals of Muslims and their neighbors particulary in post-9/11 world. Among the well known and undiscovered shows with postive and human portrays
of Islam and Muslim life include, Little Mosque on the Prarie, West Bank Story and occasionally in popular cartoon shows do we see a Muslim mother, sister, neighbor or teacher who are like everyone else. Simpsons featured
an episode about a Muslim American family who Bart Simpson befriends while learning about Arab culture, media fear and hysteria caused by War on Terror.
The image of ordinary Muslims (with ranging diversity) has gradually become realistic. However, American, Israeli and European comedy shows, series and films
shamefully follow the mainstream media stereotypes and misunderstanding about the Islam for comic effect.
Political satire helps to overlook the positive images of Muslims, their lives and relationships and promote the familiar popular culture stereotypes.
However, outside the slapstick comedies there are many animated short films from around the world that examine the war on terrorism's effects on Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Below are some unusual animated films that shows the viewer a day in life of Palestine, Iraq, France, UK, etc for everyday Muslims, their neighbors and their coreligious brothers.
Animated movies on War on Terror & its consequences:
Animated films from around the world go beyond, "they are all violent terrorists & irrational fundamentalists" mantra to show the lives of ordinary people, Islam and relationships with neighbors, families and friends.
The most well known are: Islam and Muslims are backwards, violent and irrational, Islam oppresses women, they always wear the burqa or veil,
have no freedom beyond religion or even in their private lives, all Arabs are Muslims and all Muslims are Arabs, (although there are millions of Arab Christians (orthodox, coptic, catholic, etc)
and Jews (mizrahi, orthodox, haredi, etc) also living in Arab countries and the largest Muslim countries are in Asia)
even Islam & Muslims in Asia & Africa are regard as belonging to TV's "dangerous Arab world", all Muslims live either in the desert or in violent
countries, condone terrorism and always the Other. All these stereotypes are done for laughs and giggles or social commentary.
Rarely do the comedians look at the consequences of their imagery
and what it means for the people who are stereotype. After all as the humorists say, "Everyone should laugh at themselves" which is not a bad thing.
But when the humor is always aimed at people who are regarded by default because of politics to be 1 dimensional terrorists than one often begins to wonder why.
Though the more straightforward stereotypes of orientalism and colonialism are have been replaced and occasionally rebroadcast on TV,
there are now plenty of subtle caricatures depicting the Arab World, Asia, Africa, Islam and Muslims as Others.
Having said that, below are humourous clips from famous comedy shows, series, etc from U.S., Europe & Israel
commenting on the post 9/11 world as it relates to Middle East, Muslims, Islam and war on terror. Enjoy! The titles for each section are phrases, (used as puns here)
used by media experts, politicians and pundits in discussions about terror, Muslim World and its relations to the West
Not distinction: Israel, America and Europe laughs at Muslims, "Hamas" "Islamic" terrorists and G'had
Les guignols de l'info - Vente d'armes aux USA Both humourist and not so funny faux-PSA by Les Guignols about gun violence and
random shootings in U.S. in which inoncent bystanders bear the brunt
Arab Labour: Lighter side of Arab Israeli life, Israel Arab labour is an award winning comedy series poking fun at the stigmas and stereotypes of everyday reality in Israel-Palestine between Israelis and Palestinians
A collage of images, videos and commentaries from popular and famous American films, TV shows, news commentors and cartoons dehumanizing Arab culture, Islam, Muslims across the world, Middle East and diversity of Arab World.
Anti Arab Bias Part 1 CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer interviewed both Hussein Ibish, Rep. Daryl Issa and Time Magazine's Michael Weisskopf to talk about Anti-arab racism in U.S. from culture, politics and everyday life only a few months after September 11th. Originally broadcasted May 2002 during the second Intifada in Palestine-Israel, bombing of Afghanistan and rising terrorism in Pakistan.
