Media Stereotype

Stereotype!! What is meaning by stereotype? It is a new word for me actually because when we watch movie or any media source, definitely we won't care about why the movie is published or it's related to a specific matter. Therefore there will be less understanding about the reason why a media is created or published. So the word 'stereotype' is created to let the audience know what is the media is all about.

Stereotype is also known as 'ethnic stereotype' is a generalized representation of an ethnic group, composed of what are thought to be typical characteristics of members of the group. Ethnic stereotypes are commonly portrayed in ethnic jokes. Now almost all media production are more focus on stereotypes between The United States of America and The Arabs. This is because the conflict between this two country has create a major effect throughout the whole world. For example, if a question is ask from anyone in the world about combination of the US marines and terriost, he/she will definitely related it with wars and cruelty.

Stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims have been presented in various forms by the mass media in Western and American culture. The representations are manifested in a society's media, literature and other creative expressions. These representations have been historically and repercussions for Arab Americans and Muslims in daily interactions and in current events.

In the movie 'Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People', i feel that the director's intention to film this movie is to show an television image of the Arab that is omnipresent and it becomes a part of American folklore. He also tells that Arabs do have consistently appeared in American popular culture as billionaires,bombers, and bell dancers.

'Arab Muslims are fanatics who believe in a different god, who don't value human life as much as we do, they are intent on destroying us (the west) with their oil or with their terrorism; the men seek to abduct and brutally seduce our women; they are without family and reside in a primitive place (the desert) and behave like primitive beings. The women are subservient — resembling black crows — or we see them portrayed as mute, somewhat exotic harem maidens'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Arabs_and_Muslims

Besides that. there is another media stereotypes that is related to Arab and Muslim citizens that is '100 Years of Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim stereotyping' by Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, the director of media relations for the American Arab Anti-Discrimation Committee. In that movie. Arabs in TV and movies are classified as either bombers, belly dancers or billionaires. It refers them as terrorist, women as sex objects, or as wealthy oilmen. it's been mentioned also that even cartoons is being insulting to Arabs and muslims and how people who live in the US and interact with its community. Then it explains that these stereotypes don't only harm the psychological part but also helps feed into actions that are physically harmful by dehumanizing a group first before attacking it.

In conclusion, all stereotypes about Arabs and Muslim are commonly done by the US. Therefore, they will treat Arabs and muslims as terrorist and will bring trouble to them.