1) Historically, Muslims have often been portrayed in negative or stereotypical ways in Hollywood and Bollywood films, commonly as villains.
2) However, there have been some positive changes with films starting to show Muslims in a more humanizing and nuanced light as heroes and normal people.
3) Still, Muslim narratives and portrayals of their history and culture are often missing from mainstream films. More work remains to be done to have Muslims help tell their own stories.
1. From
to
The changing roles of
Muslims in film
Javed Mohammed
Writer-Producer
Writer-
k2film@live.com
Muslims and Media Part 2
Changing the world one story at a time Copyright 2008
2. Once upon a time
in a land called Hollywood, they
made dreams come true.
12. But the media was still mighty
influential
“The media's the most powerful
entity on earth. They have the
power to make the innocent
guilty and to make the guilty
innocent, and that's power.
Because they control the minds
of the masses.”
14. In the 80s & 90s films like
these were the norm:
Genre: Muslim
Drama,
Kidnapping, True
Story, Betrayal,
Tear Jerker,
Suspense, Escape,
Doctor, Spy,
Hostage, Political
Film used for diversity training and understanding
15. Not without my daughter:
Tagline: “In
1984, Betty
Mahmoody's
husband took
his wife and
daughter to
meet his family
in Iran.”
Film used for diversity training and understanding
16. Not without my daughter:
Tagline: “He
swore they
would be safe.”
Film used for diversity training and understanding
17. Not without my daughter:
Tagline: “They
would be free to
leave.”
Film used for diversity training and understanding
22. Stereotypes of Arabs and
Muslims
quot;Arab (read
Muslim) culture
has been the
most
misunderstood
and supplied
with the worst
stereotypesquot;:
Scott J. Simon
31. In Bollywood the story is
similar but also different
Muslims have
had a small
presence in
Hindi film since
the early days
Dilip Kumar (real name Yusuf Khan)
one of the top 3 actors
of his time 1950s-60s
32. There have been many
Muslim Bollywood heroines
Waheeda Rahman
Madhubala
Mumtaz
41. Story of Indian partition: reduced
to Romance and Rambo
Gadar: A blockbuster where a Sikh hero rescues Muslim damsel during riots, fall in love
And then goes to rescue her from evil Pakistani Muslims.
47. But where is the Muslim
narrative?
Whose telling
your stories,
history, values?
48. As I said it’s not all bad
We, collectively
are responsible:
It starts with
education
Taking
ownership
Ends with
action.
49. Spike Lee
“I'm just trying to
tell a good story
and make thought-
provoking,
entertaining films.
I just try and draw
upon the great
culture we have as
a people, from
music, novels, the
streets.”
52. Reference
All images are used under “fair use” and
obtained from the public domain. They are
the property of the respective copyright
holders.
Please Note: I started to keep track of sources but it became too
cumbersome.