Through a Screen Darkly: Hollywood as a Measure of Discrimination Against Arabs and Muslims

Duke Forum for Law and Social Change, Vol. 2, 2010

Lewis & Clark Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2010-18

22 Pages Posted: 10 May 2010 Last revised: 22 May 2010

See all articles by Tung Yin

Tung Yin

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library

Date Written: May 7, 2010

Abstract

In this essay, which was prepared for the Duke Forum for Law and Social Change’s “The New Face of Discrimination: Muslim in America,” I compare Hollywood’s depiction of Arabs and Muslims in terrorism thrillers before and after the 9/11 attacks. The goal of this comparison is to see whether the increased awareness of Arab and Muslim culture since 9/11 has changed the way that Hollywood depicts Arab and Muslim characters in such television shows and movies. I chose Hollywood as the focus because popular culture both reflects and shapes public attitudes. I reach three conclusions: (1) although 9/11 led to an increase in Arab characters, Arab-American actors have not benefited, perhaps an indication of the problematic depictions of such characters; (2) Hollywood has moved toward creating Arab-American counterterrorism agents, but these characters typically play minor roles that understate the key roles played by some (of the few) real-life Arab-American agents; and (3) the new “sleeper cell” characters – seemingly normal Arab-American characters who secretly plan and execute terrorism plots – who are a post-9/11 development, for the most part overstate the nature of the Arab-Americans who have been prosecuted for terrorism-related offenses in this country.

Keywords: terrorism, 9/11, Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, television, movies, discrimination

JEL Classification: K19, K42

Suggested Citation

Yin, Tung, Through a Screen Darkly: Hollywood as a Measure of Discrimination Against Arabs and Muslims (May 7, 2010). Duke Forum for Law and Social Change, Vol. 2, 2010, Lewis & Clark Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2010-18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1602206

Tung Yin (Contact Author)

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library ( email )

10015 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219
United States

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