LESSON III
MUSLIMS IN THE MEDIA
60 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES:
LOCATION: Audio-Visual Projection room, or a classroom with a computer, overhead projector, speakers, Internet connection, and blinds.
MATERIALS: Personal Journals, pens or pencils
PROCEDURE:
15 minutes:
Discuss Planet of the Arabs through the following questions. Students should take notes while participating in the discussion.
11 minutes:
Watch the clip from Reel Bad Arabs
MUSLIMS IN THE MEDIA
60 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES:
- To notice how Arabs/Muslims are represented in the media. The simple fact that there is a film entitled Planet of the Arabs shows how Arab and Muslim are mutually exclusive according to mainstream media.
- To think critically about the inaccuracies and choices of mainstream media.
- To question the negativity, stereotyping, and the demeaning language and visuals used in representations of Muslims.
- To be able to recognize hidden-or not so hidden-Islamophobic messages, and to wonder why mainstream media can get away with vilifying and insulting Arabs and Muslims.
- To realize that as consumers of media, they should be critical viewers and listeners, and should not accept that their intelligence be insulted by the misrepresentation of 1.6 billion Muslims through the prejudices and poor taste of movie producers.
LOCATION: Audio-Visual Projection room, or a classroom with a computer, overhead projector, speakers, Internet connection, and blinds.
MATERIALS: Personal Journals, pens or pencils
PROCEDURE:
15 minutes:
Discuss Planet of the Arabs through the following questions. Students should take notes while participating in the discussion.
- Describe the movie in one word.
- Why is the movie called Planet of the Arabs?
- What do you know about the relation between Arabs and Muslims from what you have learned so far?
- What are the Arabs/Muslims doing in this movie?
- Why did I ask you to watch this movie?
- What are the components of this movie? What gives it an impact quality?
11 minutes:
Watch the clip from Reel Bad Arabs
15 minutes:
Discuss Reel Bad Arabs through the following questions:
Discuss Reel Bad Arabs through the following questions:
- Have you ever seen a normal American Muslim family in a movie or on television?
- Have you ever seen a Muslim in a movie or television show who is NOT a terrorist, a stupid rich man, a belly dancer, or an oppressed woman?
- What caught your attention in this clip? Is Islamophobia a new phenomenon?
- How did the representation of Muslims change over the years?
- How many of you have ever noticed the lyrics of the Aladdin Arabian Nights song before watching this clip?
2 minutes:
Play the following montage which compares the English lyrics of the Aladdin Arabian Nights song to the ones used in the Arabic dubbed version. Students should pay attention to the subtitles in the Arabic section. You can play this short clip twice if needed.
Play the following montage which compares the English lyrics of the Aladdin Arabian Nights song to the ones used in the Arabic dubbed version. Students should pay attention to the subtitles in the Arabic section. You can play this short clip twice if needed.
7 minutes:
Discuss the lyrics
This difference is in and of itself racist and exemplifies the way Arabs and Muslims are stereotyped. By using contrasting lyrics in the Arabic version of the song, what's being implied is that Muslims are all Arabs, and that Muslims and Arabs don't understand English. It also implies that there are no Muslims from other nationalities who might not understand either English or Arabic. Your last question should steer the discussion toward this conclusion.
5 minutes:
Ask students to name TV shows or movies they have recently seen which represent Muslims in a stereotypical way.
5 minutes:
Explain next week's assignment.
Discuss the lyrics
- How different are the English lyrics from the Arabic ones?
- Why do you think there is such a difference?
- Could this be a marketing technique for Arabs/Muslims?
- If the reason behind the choice of the Arabic lyrics is not to offend Arabs or Muslims, what is being implied?
This difference is in and of itself racist and exemplifies the way Arabs and Muslims are stereotyped. By using contrasting lyrics in the Arabic version of the song, what's being implied is that Muslims are all Arabs, and that Muslims and Arabs don't understand English. It also implies that there are no Muslims from other nationalities who might not understand either English or Arabic. Your last question should steer the discussion toward this conclusion.
5 minutes:
Ask students to name TV shows or movies they have recently seen which represent Muslims in a stereotypical way.
5 minutes:
Explain next week's assignment.
Assignment #3: Media Critique Grading Rubric
Assignment Instructions and Expectations:
- On YouTube, search for the 'Aladdin Arabian Nights' song in different languages. You can use phrases such as 'Aladdin Arabian Nights Finnish subs/translation'. Substitute Finnish with Portuguese or any other language. There is a good number of dubbed versions of this song on YouTube, and a few of them have subtitles.
- Write down the lyrics of the dubbed version of your choice (try to have at least two dubbed versions) and compare and contrast them to the English lyrics. How are they similar and in what ways do they differ? How drastic is the difference? How close is the similarity?
- The Arab American community has protested against the racist lyrics of Aladdin's 'Arabian Nights' song and won their case. The lyrics were changed, but not in their entirety. Search for Aladdin Arabian Nights on YouTube and you will get the new version (the older one is much more difficult to find).
- Listen closely to the lyrics. What are the changes that have been made? Is there anything that strikes you as being strange?
- This assignment is to be written in either essay of point format, and should be no less than 750 words. You will be referring to your notes in a future assignment, so make sure they are well thought out.
Mark Breakdown: [This assignment is worth 5% of your grade]
Two dubbed versions of the song
Thoughtful analysis of the lyrics (compare and contrast)
Noticing changes made to the Arabic version
Noticing the strange aspect of the new Arabic lyrics and explaining why this aspect is alarming (if it exists).
Thoughtful analysis of the lyrics (compare and contrast)
Noticing changes made to the Arabic version
Noticing the strange aspect of the new Arabic lyrics and explaining why this aspect is alarming (if it exists).
1%
2%
1%
1%
2%
1%
1%
Have fun, Be Create Live, and see you next class!
HOMEWORK:
- Media Critique assignment