Unit 1, Issue 3

Do Media Represent Realistic Images of Arabs?

It is fair to say that the media does not represent realistic images of all Arabs. In fact, since the attacks that took place in New York city on the date Americans will never forget, 9/11 Arabs have been portrayed as terrorists and people that should be feared. They have been categorized and stereotyped in articles, television shows, movies, news, and airports. Overall they are perceived as a threat because of the haunting events that took place in the past. They are also viewed as scary because they are different than most people in the U.S. and society in general tends to shun that which is unknown or unfamiliar. 

However thanks to a recent shift in the Middle East, Arabs are now gaining a voice to express that they do not all feel the same or think the same as fellow members of their surroundings. Thanks to technology, particularly blogs Arabs are able for the first time in history to express themselves without constraints. Many of them do not believe in violence and disagree strongly with the way society functions. They voice their opinions on topics ranging from everyday life, to the ancient political system, the unfair cruelty, and their dreams of a more educated and liberated society one day. They also write about their frustration with being feared. 

Edward Saaed wrote about otherness and not belonging. Otherness has to do with a person, who is different. For example someone who is dressed differently, speaks a different language, looks exotic, and has dark eyes, skin, and hair. All of these things tend to instill fear in others who are not accustom to these features or cultural differences. When a person experiences a personal interaction with someone though, it's more difficult to "other" them. Overall I would say that the media portrays Arabs in a negative light but we must be intelligent enough individuals to research other cultures and have a more open mind and create our own image of them.