The Muslim World in Post–9/11 American Cinema

Focusing on the decade following 9/11, this critical analysis examines the various portrayals of Muslims in American cinema. Comparison of pre– and post–9/11 films indicates a stereotype shift, influenced by factors other than just politics. The evolving definitions of male, female and child characters and of setting and landscape are described. The rise of the formidable American female character who dominates the weak Muslim male emerges as a common theme.

Kerem Bayraktaroğlu worked as a story editor for New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features, London, and was involved in such projects as The Sleeping Dictionary, Ripley’s Game and Dancer in the Dark. He moved to New York City in 2001 where he became one of the original members of Cinetic Media. He moved back to London in 2004 to join Artists Independent Films.

Kerem Bayraktaroğlu

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 229
Bibliographic Info: 8 photos, filmography, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6667-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3363-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Building a “Muslim World” for the Large Screen 11
2. Muslim Space Before and After 9/11 27
3. The Muslim Male Character Typology 65
4. White Female and Muslim Male Characters 97
5. From Stereotype to “New” Muslim Woman 124
6. Muslim Children 150
7. The Normalization of the Muslim World 179
8. “Be sincere, be brief, be seated” 188
Filmography 199
Chapter Notes 205
Works Cited 209
Index 219

• “A rich and comprehensive comparative study”—Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online

• “Well-organized…a thorough analysis of the changes over time to representations of the Muslim world in American cinema…a crucial and timely intervention into the study of American cinema and its relationship to the Muslim world. …a worthwhile and important contribution to media studies”—Journal of Religion & Film