This… upsets me. I went to see this stupid ass fucking movie, and everyone in it was laughing like an idiot. It was SO blatantly racist that I couldn’t even believe an idea like this was made into a movie. I couldn’t help but think that if there was the same movie concept but about black people or Jews how much backlash and negative publicity it would receive from the public. There’s a lot of things wrong with this film, and I wasn’t going to post anything about it on here, but now I will because it’s 6.45 am and I just read those ridiculous tweets.
A couple things that bothered me about the film: First, the secular regimes of the middle east (which are built on friendly clientele relationships with the US/West) are equated with terrorism and Islamic militant fringe groups. The movie makes absolutely no distinction between these and makes them all together to be seen as one. This is considerably dangerous for someone who isn’t educated on the Middle East because if you read about any country in the region that has had a secular government, you will see that there are great, GREAT differences between them in many ways.
Secondly, the movie pushes forward the idea of clashing cultural identities (a la Huntington) and how they will never be reconcilable with one another. It portrays Middle Eastern people as coming from such a stubborn culture that we are unable to adapt to living in the West, and that the “freedoms” that people have in a Western country are shocking/disturbing to us. THIS is very dangerous because it gives subtle messages with regards to the relationship of Western powers/Israel with surrounding Arab/Middle Eastern countries. The idea repeated in Israeli hasbara and US media that “they hate us because we’re free.”
It pushes ALL racist/negative stereotypes against Arabs/Middle Easterners (particularly Middle Eastern men) as primitive, arrogant, money hungry, rude, condescending, small-minded, liars, objectifying towards women, against the education of women, racist to other groups, daft/unintelligent when it comes to everything except violence/trickery, etc etc etc. It uses popular/normal Arabic music in a ridiculing manner. Basically, it turns EVERYTHING about Middle Easterners into a joke.
Most importantly though, it sends very dangerous messages about the United Nations, the idea of sanctions, nuclear arms, and current international relations. There are many not-so-subtle references/images referring to NATO interventions in general, as well as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, and so forth.
These are just a couple things that bothered me. I’m going to go into more detail, or everything else, and please do not message me to argue with me. But I just hope that people who see this film will think critically about the media in general, and especially about how Western policies towards the Middle East often gain consent and are projected/normalized through mass media.
Reblogging again because of the commentary. She touches on some good points.
Okay. No. Have you watched Bruno? Borat? Ali G? They’re all just pull on nonsense. They’re not racist films. They can be seen as such if you want to, but I went to see it and it was just a fun film filled with absolute nonsense, I took it as that and found it funny! Once again, people are taking something and making it mean something. If you want to complain about racism, do it, please. But not on something that isn’t a racially discriminating film. Just take it for what it is.
(Source: hassibah)
Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) Auditioning for The Hunger Games
I’ll always remember this man as one of the greatest serving Red’s.
Dirk, you were always one of my favourites, so sad to see you go but you left us with some great memories of passion, victory and loyalty. You’ll always have a place saved for you in the Kop.
(Source: ss3dd)
why the fuck is charmeleon red
its like that one kid in highschool who dyes his hair because he doesnt want anyone to think he’s related to his family but everyone can tell anyway
