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Summary:
This groundbreaking documentary dissects a slanderous aspect of cinematic history that has run virtually unchallenged from the earliest days of silent film to today's biggest Hollywood blockbusters. Featuring acclaimed author Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs--from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists"--along the way offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in US history, and why they matter so much today. Shaheen shows how the persistence of these images over time has served to naturalize prejudicial attitudes toward Arabs and Arab culture, in the process reinforcing a narrow view of individual Arabs and the effects of specific US domestic and internationl policies on their lives. By inspiring critical thinking about the social, political, and basic human consequences of leaving these Hollywood caricatures unexamined, the film challenges viewers to recognize the urgent need for counter-narratives that do justice to the diversity and humanity of Arab people and the reality and richness of Arab history and culture.

Viewer Discretion Advised: Contains graphic violent language & imagery

Logistical Information:
Director: Sut Jhally

Biographical Summary:
Internationally acclaimed author and media critic, Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, is a committed internationalist and a devoted humanist. A Pittsburgh native and former CBS news consultant on Middle East Affairs, Shaheen’s lectures and writings illustrate that damaging racial and ethnic stereotypes of Asians, blacks, Native Americans and others injure innocent people. He defines crude caricatures, explains why they persist, and provides workable solutions to help shatter misperceptions.

Professor Shaheen has given over 1,000 lectures in nearly all the 50 states and three continents. Among those universities that have welcomed him are Oxford, Amherst, Brown, Emory, Harvard, the University of Southern California, West Point, as well as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the White House Truman Center. World capitols where he has spoken include London, Berlin, Paris, Prague, New Delhi, Cairo, and Istanbul. He has consulted with the United Nations, the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and New York City’s Commission on Civil Rights. In cooperation with the United States government, he has conducted communication seminars throughout the Middle East.

Dr. Shaheen is the author of four books: Nuclear War Films, Arab and Muslim Stereotyping in American Popular Culture, The TV Arab and the award-winning book and film Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People.

His writings include 300-plus essays in publications such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post to chapters on media stereotypes in dozens of college textbooks.

Dr. Shaheen, an Oxford Research Scholar, is the recipient of two Fulbright teaching awards. He holds degrees from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Missouri. He has appeared on national network programs such as CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Nightline, Good Morning America, 48 Hours, and The Today Show.

Among Dr. Shaheen’s awards recognizing his “outstanding contribution towards a better understanding of our global community” are: The University of Pennsylvania’s Janet Lee Stevens Award; the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of “his lifelong commitment to bring a better understanding towards peace for all mankind;” and the Pancho Be Award for “the advancement of humanity.” Pancho Be, a Mayan phrase, means to seek the root of truth.

Shaheen has served as a consultant with film and TV companies: DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera, and Showtime.

Screenings and Festivals:
• Festival del integracion de Valencia | Valencia, Spain | April 19-22, 2008

• Our Island, Our World Film Film Festival | Saltspring Island, BC | March 7-9, 2008

• Adelaide Festival of Arts | Adelaide, Australia | March 15, 2008

• Arabian Sights Film Festival | Washington, DC | October 26 - November 4, 2007

• Arab Film Festival | San Francisco | October 25, 2007

• CinemaEast Film Festival | New York City | October 18, 2007

• National Arab American Medical Association Conference | Las Vegas | September 1, 2007

• Date Palm Film Festival | New Zealand | September 2007

• Brisbane International Film Festival | Australia | August 2-12, 2007

• Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival | Liverpool, UK | July 1-15, 2007

• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Annual National Convention | Washington DC | June 8, 2007

• Cinema de Balie | Amsterdam, Netherlands | May 7, 2007

• Southern Illinois University | Edwardsville, IL | April 19, 2007

• Arab American National Museum | Dearborn, MI | March 28 - April 1, 2007

• Cinema Politica at Concordia University | Montreal, Quebec | March 26, 2007

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts | London, U.K. | March 30 - April 2, 2007

• National Conference for Media Reform | Memphis, TN | January, 2007

• Dubai International Film Festival | December 2006