Reimagining the Middle Easterner Sources: Arabface.us PBS: Global Connections And Professor Michael Green’s lectures

Brought to you by… Algebra and the concept of zero— Also, the fact that “Arab intellectuals made it feasible for Western scholars to develop and practice advanced educational systems... In astronomy Arabs used astrolabes for navigation, star maps, celestial globes, and the concept of the center of gravity. In geography, they pioneered the use of latitude and longitude. They invented the water clock; their architecture inspired the Gothic style in Europe. In agriculture, they introduced oranges, dates, sugar, and cotton, and pioneered water works and irrigation.” Jack G. Shaheen, “Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People”

Write: Why might people living in the United States possibly have stereotypes about the Middle East, Arab people, Muslims and the religion of Islam?

CHOOSE: Stereotype or Generalization? 1.All boys like trucks 2.America is a Christian nation 3.Old people are bad drivers 4.Many girls like dolls 5.All Iranians hate Americans NOW EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE…

Assumption Something taken for granted or accepted as true without proof Misperception Something perceived incorrectly or misunderstood Generalization Reasoning from detailed facts to general principles Stereotype A generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group.

(Mis)Perception? “Arab" and "Muslim" refer to the same people. YES or NO?

Not all Muslims are Arabs Only 12-15% of Muslims worldwide are Arabs Arabs are people who speak Arabic as a native language and self-identify as Arabs; Muslims are those who practice the religion of Islam. Most of the world’s 1.1 billion Muslims are Indonesian, Indian, Malaysian, Pakistani, and American: Muslims are America’s fastest growing religious group; about 500,000 reside in the greater Los Angeles area. 7

(Mis?)perception The Sheik: have long flowing robes, beards, sunglasses, pockets stuffed with petrodollars, and drive giant, bulletproof SUVs. They are also buying the USA.

Reality A Sheik is an elder, sometimes the leader of a mosque, usually the head of a family. While there are individuals in the Middle East who have certainly become very wealthy because of oil, the majority of people in the region are either poor or middle class

What assumptions does this cartoon make about Arabian gender roles?

Families Most families in the Middle East consist of one husband and one wife, their children, and perhaps one or more of the husband's or wife's parents.

Stereotypes of Women – Willingness to submit to their “owners,” as if they relish their sexual mistreatment and enslavement. – Appearing as shapeless “Bundles of Black” or Beasts of Burden, a homogeneous sea of covered women. – Being labeled as Black magic vamps or enchantresses ‘possessed of devils.’ – Dark-complexioned Arab femmes fatales who move to woo the American/British hero, but are often rebuffed and disappointed

(Mis)perception: The “Other” Hollywood’s interpretation Threatening (racially and religiously) Brutal Heartless Uncivilized, incompetent Religious fanatics Bent on terrorizing “civilized” Westerners. 13

In countless movies, Arabs are invariably stereotyped as murderers, rapists, oil-rich dimwits, abusers of women and jihadists. Other common stereotypes include: Black beards; headdresses; dark sunglasses; palm trees; oases; hooked noses; belly dancers; limousines; harem maidens; oil wells; camels; automatic weapons; and cries to Allah.

Terrorists? Acts of terrorism are carried out by only a few. Most Muslims condemn violence as heartily as any non- Muslim and resent being presumed violent on the basis of a shared religion or the rhetoric of a particular group. Muslims often ask, "Did Timothy McVeigh's bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City mean all Christians are terrorists?" Caveat: Some ambivalence exists among Muslims about attacks carried out by Palestinian extremists against Israelis -- since many Muslims consider this a legitimate national struggle against a much stronger enemy --

(Mis)perception Muslims hate all non- believers, and our cultural differences are insurmountable.

Could this possibly be true? Muslim societies through history have tended to be more tolerant of religious minorities -- especially Jews and Christians -- than the West has. The Middle East has a long history of trade, communication, and cultural exchange with Europe and the United States, as well as other cultures around the world. PBS

Reel Arabs… I will have this available for you in-class only, but you can google it, and at home it may be available to you on youtube at this link: At school, however, you cannot use this link due to copyright laws. Times to watch are here: Arabland: 4:00 – 7:38 They are everywhere? 11:46 – 12:42 The Arab woman today: 12:42-13:45 Bellydancer? Or Terrorist? Bundles in black? Submissive? Getting Real: 37:30-41:38 (we may get through 45:00, and you can watch the rest--)

In closing: The vast majority of Arabs, Muslims, (and in fact most people!) are peaceful, or at least as varied an undefinable as you not violent terrorists or suicide bombers not rich oil sheiks not living in desert tents None are surrounded by Harem maidens Most have never seen an oil well or ridden a camel They defy stereotyping!