Arabs seen as the new villains of Hollywood
By Roger Dobson
29 June 2003
Hollywood has a new top villain, who has taken over from those old foes, red
Indians and Communists.
Now the Apache have become respected native Americans, the Iron Curtain
gone, and Russia almost an ally, Arabs are pretty much the only villains in
town. According to a new report, they are portrayed in a derogatory way 96
per cent of the time.
Usually typecast as nasty bombers or evil billionaires, or at best, evil
belly dancers, Arab characters have been the baddies in more than 20 big
films in the past 10 years, including Death Before Dishonor, Navy SEALs,
Patriot Games, The American President, Delta Force 3 and Executive Decision.
Not, it seems, since the heyday of cowboys-and-Indians has there been such
an epidemic of violence against one group, though Arabs have long been a
target as well. The report in the July issue of Annals of the American
Academy of Political and Social Science says they have been depicted as
rogues for the best part of a century.
Based on a study of more than 900 films, the report says: "Moviemakers'
distorted lenses have shown Arabs as heartless, brutal, uncivilised,
religious fanatics through common depictions of Arabs kidnapping or raping a
fair maiden; expressing hatred against the Jews and Christians; and
demonstrating a love for wealth and power."
It compares the stereotype of the hook-nosed Arab with a similar depiction
of Jews by the Nazis. Cartoons are involved too. Even in those with all-Arab
characters the heroes are lighter-skinned - with American accents.
Also in Americas
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