The Film Analysis Of Orientalism, And Reel Bad Egypt

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People of different cultures have always intimidated other humans. From the beginning of time people have been hesitant of those who looked different or believed in different things. In the past when humans do not understand something, they try to create an explanation. Sometimes throughout history when people try to explain phenomenon they don't understand their explanations have no substantial merit or rationel. This has caused myths, legends and beliefs about other ways of life that are horrendously inaccurate. The world is much more progressive and insightful now than it was 500, 300 or even 100 years ago. Sadly, despite this improvement our world still suffers from segregation. Orientalism is a theory written by Edward Said, that …show more content…

The idea behind Orientalism has been around much longer. A major example used by Said was British imperialism in Egypt. The British took control of Egypt’s government in 1882. Western culture's perception of the middle east has been tainted for hundreds of years starting with ignorant men who passed down there incorrect beliefs to those who would accept them purely as fact. These beliefs passed down by europeans are still prevalent in western culture today and Reel Bad Arabs does an excellent job of shedding light on how we still spread these beliefs in modern times. To understand how these films started to be produced, one must first understand that Orientalism set the stage for all of these films to be created. Orientalism is the reason America has a biased opinion towards those from the middle east. Hollywood has produced many movies where “Arab Land” is involved. Arab Land is the fictional embodiment of all the basic stereotypes associated with the middle east. “We see people riding around on magic carpets, turban charmers programming snakes in and out of baskets. Yesteryear’s Arab Land is today’s Arab Land” (Shaheen 3). Arab characters in these movies are portrayed as savage and ruthless killers who have no humanity. This belief stems back to Arthur James Balfour, a British leader in Egypt at the time of Imperialism, who was quoted as saying. All of the misconceptions that Hollywood spreads in its movies are a direct …show more content…

These two resources play off of each other well providing two different mediums and styles for two different audiences, but ultimately hope to accomplish the same thing. Ending racism. The world we live in is imperfect in many ways. Humans are creatures like any other, they fight and kill each other to assert their dominance. Being a human, you are an individual who gets to decide what you do in life. Humans are capable of both great and horrendous things. Reel Bad Arabs and Orientalism are helping to end some of these terrible things that humans have created and spread. Stopping the spread of misconceptions about the middle east is a key start creating a more utopian world. This leads back to one of the main points of Reel Bad Arabs, don't ignore the wrongdoings of some people, however don't see them as monsters, because at the end of the day they are conflicted humans just like you and me. To see someones humanity is to realize that they are closer to you than you had previously

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