TV shows have always been popular. However, fairly recently, their quality and their budget have vastly increased. ‘Prestige TV’, which is frequently argued to have started with The Sopranos, can be argued to have continued with The Wire, Lost, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. After 9/11, an increase in TV shows focusing on terrorism was noticeable. Many shows exhibited coping mechanisms built into their plots, which can be related to the events on September 11, 2001. Movies like the Rambo film series (1982-1988), Platoon (1986), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Rocky IV (1985) can be argued to be cinematic attempts of coming to terms with the United States’ defeat in the Vietnam War, as well as locking horns with Russia respectively.
In more recent movie history, we can witness films such as Rules of Engagement (2000), Flightplan (2005), The Kingdom (2007), and the Transformers franchise (2007-2014), which can be interpreted as ‘blowing off steam’ with regard to the US Army’s seemingly endless engagement in the Middle East. Not to forget the recent TV shows Quantico (2015-), 24 (2001-2010), and Homeland (2011-), which are excellent examples for Orientalist points of view, terrorism threats and so-called ‘SHTF’-scenarios, as well as homeland-security issues. These TV shows all seem to be cultural products that can be seen as direct answers to the terrorist attacks that day. And just like the older examples of pop culture products, these series and movies are also filled with coping behavior and processes.
The goal of this thesis is to look at the dichotomy between the East and the West, the negative perception of the Middle East in the West, as well as how negative images of the East are constructed, but also countered in Western media. In other words, to see where or how Orientalist views are perpetuated and reinforced, and where they are countered, criticized, and ridiculed. Furthermore, the intention of this thesis will be to scrutinize the underlying presumptions about the ‘other’, and how these presumptions can be connected to Orientalism. By exposing the negative images, stereotypes and attempts of othering, light will be shed on the above-mentioned misrepresentations of Middle Easterners.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Through the Lens of Orientalism
2.1 Defining Geographies, Cultures, Languages and Religions
2.2 Orientalism
2.2.1 Critique towards Saïd’s Understanding of Orientalism
2.2.2 Versions of Orientalism
2.2.3 American Orientalism
2.3 Representing, Othering, Stereotyping
2.3.1 Representing
2.3.2 Othering
2.3.3 Stereotyping
3. Middle Easterners as Represented in Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie
3.1 Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie
3.2 The Ideological Frame
3.3 The Political Frame
3.4 The Issue Frames
3.4.1 Race
3.4.2 Religion
3.4.3 Gender
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This master's thesis examines the dichotomy between the East and the West, specifically focusing on how negative perceptions and stereotypes of Middle Easterners are constructed and perpetuated in contemporary North American television series, while also analyzing counter-narratives that challenge these representations.
- Application of Edward Saïd's Orientalism framework to modern media.
- Comparative analysis of the television series Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie.
- Deconstruction of "othering" and stereotyping processes in popular culture.
- Evaluation of media influence on political and social perceptions of the Middle East.
- Investigation of racial, religious, and gendered framing in fictional narratives.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Through the Lens of Orientalism
First of all, the question needs to be asked, why it is important to look at Orientalism with regard to representations of Middle Easterners. Orientalism consists of a certain language and artifacts with which power can be wielded and identities can be constituted. In order to be able to unveil and scrutinize these mechanisms, the concept of Orientalism needs to be observed very closely. Edward Saïd’s work Orientalism from 1978 was an academic milestone regarding the ‘West’s’ representation of the ‘East’, and can still be considered a useful basic framework when it comes to investigating portrayals of Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners. This is why his concept, and also the critique uttered towards it, will be dealt with in depth in this chapter. Another reason for Orientalism’s continuing significance is the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Since that date, the Western world, and especially its media, has engaged in and witnessed an Orientalism comeback. However, before addressing Saïd’s concept, its magnitude, as well as its different understandings and definitions, some other terms that bear some difficulties and constantly cause misunderstandings should be clarified.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the topic of Middle Eastern representation in North American television, establishing the research goal of analyzing Orientalist depictions.
2. Through the Lens of Orientalism: Provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation, defining key concepts such as Orientalism, representation, othering, and stereotyping.
3. Middle Easterners as Represented in Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie: Applies the theoretical framework to specific scenes in the two selected TV series, structured by ideological, political, and issue-based frames.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming how Homeland reinforces while Little Mosque on the Prairie challenges Orientalist tropes.
Keywords
Orientalism, Othering, Stereotyping, Homeland, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Media Representation, Middle East, Terrorism, Post-Colonialism, Identity Construction, Political Frame, Ideological Frame, Cultural Discourse, North American Television, Edward Saïd.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this master's thesis?
The work investigates the representation of Middle Easterners in contemporary North American television series, specifically analyzing how Orientalist frameworks are applied to construct the "Other" in popular media.
What are the primary theoretical pillars of this research?
The thesis utilizes Edward Saïd's concept of Orientalism, along with frameworks on representation, othering, and stereotyping, to deconstruct the media discourse surrounding the Middle East.
What is the overarching research question?
The study seeks to understand how negative or negotiating images of Middle Easterners are constructed in popular culture and how these shows influence the viewer's ability to establish knowledge about the Middle East.
What methodology is employed in this research?
The author performs a representational critique, using Schmidt's "mediated orientalism" framework to categorize the analysis into ideological, political, and issue-based frames.
Which television series serve as the case studies?
The analysis focuses on the US-American spy thriller Homeland and the Canadian sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie.
What distinguishes Homeland from Little Mosque on the Prairie in this study?
Homeland is shown to largely reinforce Orientalist stereotypes and binary oppositions, while Little Mosque on the Prairie actively negotiates and counters these stereotypes through humor and social critique.
How does the thesis handle the term "monster" in the context of the analyzed series?
The author explores Bloodsworth-Lugo's conceptions of the "monster on board" and "monster next door," illustrating how characters like Nicholas Brody are portrayed as internal threats to the stability of the West.
How does the work address gendered representations?
The thesis analyzes the "gender frame," highlighting how the veil is politicized and used as a symbol of victimization and oppression in Homeland, contrasted with more nuanced portrayals in the Canadian sitcom.
- Citar trabajo
- Matthias Köbrich (Autor), 2017, Representation of Middle Easterners in Contemporary North American TV Series, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/436873
