Transcript Muslims in the Media - Chrissie Churchill: Digital Portfolio

 Producing and maintaining discrimination
 News ≠ reliable information
Socio-cultural analysis: Mass Media
• In the absence of direct experience of
people, places, or events, the mass media
generally becomes the primary source of
information (Bryant & Zillman, 2002).
• Australia’s Muslim population comprises
1.7% (ABS, 2006).
Digital still from True Lies (1994)
 Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2003).
– Referencing of actual events or issues, giving fictional films a
factual or authoritative character.
– Over 900 films analysed repeatedly “dehumanise Arabs and
Muslims, and portray them as heartless, brutal, uncivilised,
religious fanatics, who are violent, and terrorists” (Rane,
2007).
ALADDIN
"I come from a land, from a faraway place where
the caravan camels roam, where they cut off your
ear if they don't like your face - it's barbaric, but
hey, it's home.“ – Opening theme song
• Most frequently focused on
the Middle East (29%);
• Most frequently focused on
war, crisis, or conflict (52%);
– Most frequently showed Muslims to
be fighting
against
Christians (45% - articles where
Australian Press
Coverage of
Islam
1996-2000
the religion of the groups at
war/conflict were identified);
– Most frequently showed Muslims
as the aggressors in war/conflict
(80%);
• Descriptive references
attached to the word
‘Muslim’ or ‘Islamic’ were
frequently derogatory (40% ‘militant’, ‘fundamentalist’,
‘extremist’, or ‘terrorist’);
• Described acts condemned
by Islam, such as killing and
lynching, as ‘Islamic’ (73%);
• Rarely portrayed the human
side of Muslims (4%).
Study by Halim Rane, “Australian Press Coverage
of Islam” (Master’s Thesis, Bond University,
2000).
• “Apart from its negative
consequences on their
[Muslims’] daily lives, the
media’s coverage of Islam
reached an unprecedented
intensity.” (Yenigun, 2002, p.43)
• Bias and discrimination is not
limited to Hollywood films – it
operates within contemporary
Australian media too!
References/Further Reading
AAP. (2009). Muslim girls wearing hijabs with the Australian flag on them walk in
Melbourne [Image]. Retrieved August 22, 2011, from
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1032871/-aussies-love-other-cultures-and-fearthem
Abdalla, M & Rane, H. (2007, August). The Impact of Media Representations on the
Understanding of Islam and Attitudes toward Muslims in Queensland. Report for
Multicultural Affairs Queensland. Retrieved from
http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/52083/MAQ.pdf
Bryant J. & Zillman, D. (Eds.) (2002). Media Effects: Advances in theory and research.
Elbaum Associates: New Jersey.
Earp, J. and Jhally, S. (Directors), Earp, J. and Shaheen, J. (Writers). (2006). Reel Bad
Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. [Documentary]. Retrieved from
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/reel-bad-arabs/
Nangpal, S. (2008). Oz Muslim Women Start Fighting Back Against an
Agressive Patriarchal System [Image]. Retrieved August 23, 2011, from
http://www.topnews.in/oz-muslim-women-start-fighting-back-againstrepressive-patriarchal-system-291096
NielsenWire. (2008). Online News Better Option [Image]. Retrieved August 23,
2011, from http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/election-givesonline-news-sites-major-traffic-boost/
Ridzdesign. (2011). Islamophobia [Image]. Retrieved 21 August, 2011, from
http://endthelie.com/2011/08/03/islamophobic-conspiracy-theoriesdebunked-yet-again/#axzz1Vq3mcdik
Yenigun, H.I. (2002, October). Muslims and the Media after 9/11: A Muslim
Discourse in the American Media? Paper presented at 31st Annual Convention
of Association of Muslim Social Scientists. Retrieved from http://iepistemology.net/attachments/847_Ajiss21-3%20-%20Yenigun%20%20Muslims%20and%20the%20Media%20after%209%20over%2011.pdf