Abstract
Did the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, carried out by extremists from the Middle East, affect the way Hollywood portrayed Middle Eastern characters in films? This content analysis compares Middle Eastern characters in films from the five years before September 11, 2001 to those in films from the five years after. On average, Middle Eastern characters in post-9/11 films were found to be significantly darker-skinned, less intelligent, more likely to wear traditional (non-Western) clothing, and more likely to commit acts of terrorism.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Arabs in motion pictures; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001--Influence; Middle East--Foreign public opinion, American; Middle East--In motion pictures; Motion pictures--United States
Publication Date
4-2-2009
Document Type
Thesis
Department, Program, or Center
Department of Communication (CLA)
Advisor
Pugliese, Rudy
Advisor/Committee Member
Elahi, Babak
Recommended Citation
Dana, Matthew, "Big-screen aftershock: How 9/11 changed Hollywood’s Middle Eastern characters" (2009). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/3082
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Comments
Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: PN1995.9.A68 D36 2009