Orientalism in 20th Century Films and Hollywood
Early to mid-twentieth century films depicting the Middle East and Islam had very prominent orientalist tendencies. Here we take a look at a few films produced in this century and analyze how they have been exotified, hypermasculinized, and over sexualized to depict Hollywood's version of the Middle East.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)Lawrence of Arabia is about the life of T.E Lawrence and his experiences in Arabia during World War One. The film is regarding a man struggling between his British identity and new Arab friends and it romanticizes the Orient in multiple ways. It portrays the villain as an Arab dressed in black, other Arab men riding their camels in the expansive desert, and the consequence of this movie is portraying the "white man" as the savior of the Middle East. The Sheik (1921)The notion of the hyper masculine, aggressive Middle Eastern man dominating a submissive white woman is portrayed in the film adaptation of The Sheik. This theme directly links us to the notion of the "barbaric Arab man" as described in Reel Bad Arabs, by Dr. Jack Shaheen. Arabs trying to rape, kill, or abduct fair-complexioned Western heroines is a common
theme (Shaheen, 178). In The Sheik, Sheikh Ahmed, actor Valentino, kidnaps the British woman Diana and boasts "When an Arab sees a woman he wants, he takes her!" (Shaheen 181) "Seen through Hollywood’s distortedlenses, Arabs look different and threatening" (Shaheen 175). |
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)The Thief of Baghdad, an inspiration for Disney's Aladdin, features magic carpets, genies, and other things that exotify the Middle East. These themes and characters have been utilized in many orientalist films throughout the ages giving a false, mystical impression of the Middle East.
The film is complete with characters of a an evil Vizier and a Djinn, both characters adopted by Aladdin, and help to exotify Baghdad.
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Works Cited
Shaheen, Jack G. Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. New York: Olive Branch, 2001. Print.
Hartouni, Valerie. "WOMEN MAKE MOVIES." WOMEN MAKE MOVIES | Hollywood Harems. Web. <http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c482.shtml>.
Shaheen, Jack G. Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. New York: Olive Branch, 2001. Print.
Hartouni, Valerie. "WOMEN MAKE MOVIES." WOMEN MAKE MOVIES | Hollywood Harems. Web. <http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c482.shtml>.