Representation in Cinema

Decolonizing Your Consumption

Hello pod! In tonight’s episode, we’re discussing the kind of representation we want to see and talking about the films, filmmakers, and production companies that are changing the way that we see Arabs portrayed on the big screen. If you haven’t already tuned into our previous episodes where we break down the film Reel Bad Arabs and the destructive stereotypes we’ve seen throughout Hollywood’s history as well as define a few terms that we’ve used throughout this series, we highly recommend that you go back and listen to those episodes. If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I] Here are suggested TV shows, movies, and streaming services from our guests: * Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animated series, Netflix) * The Encampments (Watermelon+) * A Sad and Beautiful World (Watermelon+) * All That’s Left Of You (In Theatres & Watermelon+) * Amreeka (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple) * Palestine 36 (In Theatres & Watermelon+) * Salt of the Sea (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple) * Slingshot Hip Hop (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple) * Caramel (2007, Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple) * I Am From Palestine (YouTube) Follow these filmmakers and artists: * Jackie Reem Salloum * Cherein Dabis * Suheir Hammad * Annemarie Jacir * Nadine Labaki Our guests (and how you can support them) are listed below: Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com [http://amiraoutloud.substack.com]. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com [mntaha@gmail.com]. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7 [https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7]. Munir Atalla is the Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures. Visit their website at https://www.watermelonpictures.com [https://www.watermelonpictures.com] to learn more about the distribution and production company whose mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. Subscribe to Watermelon Plus for $7.99/mo or $79.99/year at https://www.watermelonplus.com [https://www.watermelonplus.com/]! Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. To support him, you can hire him as an actor (especially if you have any pirate roles in a period piece!), get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Cat so that he can collect royalties. He’s on all social media platforms as @ryanshrime. We need to support our actors! Saafa Tahboub is a Palestinian American in her third year at the University of Rochester studying Brain & Cognitive Science with a minor in Spanish. Sarah Aljitawi is a Palestinian American and a senior majoring in public health and nursing. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur [https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur] and donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP [https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP] As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link] Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit https://www.ourvoicesproject.com [https://www.ourvoicesproject.com] and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. Again, if you haven’t listened to our previous episodes in this series, we highly recommend that you do so. Not only that, do yourselves a favor and go watch Reel Bad Arabs available for FREE on YouTube as well as the films and TV shows that our guests recommended tonight. We’ll be taking 3 weeks off and we’ll be back on May 21st to dive back into films that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices and stories. This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for tonight’s episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! 00:00 Intro 06:00 Diverse Voices in Arab Cinema 08:58 Understanding Authentic Representation 12:07 The Role of Storytelling in Representation 14:57 Cultural Narratives and Media Influence 21:05 Challenges in Representation 24:00 The Need for Diverse Narratives 33:16 Resistance and the Role of Encampments 39:07 Media Representation and Its Impact 48:50 Shifting Narratives in Film and Media 54:05 Emerging Projects and Representation 58:01 Solidarity Across Movements 01:00:51 The Future of Arab Representation in Media 01:18:30 Empowering Female Voices in Film 01:21:41 Encouragement for Emerging Filmmakers & Actors 01:33:58 How to Support Our Guests Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Dialed In: A Coffee Podcast Get Dialed In to the world of coffee with Aaron and Wade! Tastings, coffee news and opinion and more! https://dialedincoffee.captivate.fm

Reel Bad Arabs: Part 2

Welcome to the third week of Arab American Heritage Month! I’m your host, Amira Ferjani taking over for Jackie McGriff. We’re continuing our conversation about Arab representation using the framework of the late Dr. Jack Shaheen’s, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. If you missed the first 2 parts of our series talking about Orientalism and covering the first half of Reel Bad Arabs, go back and watch and/or listen to those episodes! If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I] Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She has been advocating and teaching about Palestine and other marginalized communities for well over a decade. She is a graduate of University at Buffalo with a degree in English, Third world literature and African American studies. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com [mntaha@gmail.com]. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7 [https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7]. Returning to the podcast is Laith Ali, a computer science major, Class of 2026. He’s a Palestinian American whose family is from Jenin and Abu Qash. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur [https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur]and donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP [https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP] Lastly, but certainly not least, is Ryan Shrime. Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. Ryan can be found on most socials at @ryanshrime. To support him, you can hire him as an actor, get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Kat so that he can collect royalties. We need to support our actors! Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com [http://amiraoutloud.substack.com]. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link] Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. In our next episode, we’re going to talk about decolonizing your consumption and what authentic Arab representation really looks like. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 08:22 - Exploring Stereotypes in Media 15:53 - The Impact of Hollywood on Perceptions of Arabs 20:24 - Advocacy and Representation in Hollywood 21:37 - The Need for Authentic Representation 24:46 - Colorism and Stereotypes in Media 25:32 - Modern Depictions and Cultural Erasure 28:26 - The Impact of Hollywood on Arab Identity 29:59 - Personal Experiences in Acting 38:27 - Recent Portrayals and Cultural Misrepresentation 44:33 - Shifts in Representation and Future Outlook 48:35 - The Role of Social Media in Documenting Genocide 49:29 - Shifts in Hollywood's Narrative 51:56 - The Impact of Boycotting Films 54:47 - Creating Alternative Narratives 01:01:25 - The Power of Representation in Storytelling 01:09:41 - Boycotting Roles: A New Approach for Actors Mentioned in this episode: Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/ Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Mind of Magnus Artist Magnus Champlin Interviews guests sharing the stories and life adventures with the goal of expanding minds.

Reel Bad Arabs: Part 1

Tonight we’re breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, a feature documentary where acclaimed author, the late Dr. Jack Shaheen, analyzes the ways in which Hollywood has depicted Arabs from the earliest days of silent film to the early 2000s looking at Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters. If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I] Returning to the podcast is Amira Ferjani, a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com [http://amiraoutloud.substack.com]. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. Also returning to our podcast is Muna Najib. Muna is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She has been advocating and teaching about Palestine and other marginalized communities for well over a decade. She is a graduate of University at Buffalo with a degree in English, Third world literature and African American studies. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com [mntaha@gmail.com]. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7 [https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7]. Joining us for the first time here in the studio are 2 college students – I’ll start with Lina Abdou. Lina is from Morocco and a senior studying International Relations who’s also a photographer who dabbles a lot with identity as a topic. Next is Laith Ali, a computer science major, Class of 2026. He’s a Palestinian American whose family is from Jenin and Abu Qash. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur [https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur]and donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP [https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP] Lastly, but certainly not least, is Munir Atalla. Munir is the Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures [https://www.watermelonpictures.com/]. Visit their website to learn more about the distribution and production company whose mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. Subscribe to their streaming platform, Watermelon Plus [https://www.watermelonplus.com/], where you can watch over 60 films elevating bold voices from marginalized and underrepresented filmmakers. As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link] Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com [https://www.ourvoicesproject.com] and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 06:37 - The Influence of Animation on Cultural Identity 09:52 - Arab American Heritage Month: A Time for Reflection and Hope 19:27 - Exploring the Impact of Stereotypes in Film 28:03 - Exploring Media Representation of Arabs 37:55 - Reclaiming Narratives: The Impact of Stereotypes in Film 41:40 - Representation and Misrepresentation in Media 46:21 - The Rise of Alternative Storytelling 58:03 - Continuing the Conversation on Real Bad Arabs Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Common Thread Check out Common Thread on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/common-threads-hardcore/

SWANA vs. "Middle East" & Orientalism

Tonight starts a new series highlighting the representation and (mis)representation of Arabs in Western cinema, specifically in the US. We’re going to be breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs, talking about the destructive stereotypes that writer and lecturer, the late Jack Shaheen, talks about both in the film and in the book of the same title, and about what authentic representation looks like. For so long our government has fed us these stereotypes repeatedly in movies manufacturing consent for global atrocities, so we’re going to dive into what to look for and how to advocate for the kind of representation that paints them as the multifaceted, complex human beings that they are. You can watch Reel Bad Arabs for free here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I] We’re joined by Amira Ferjani, who’s going to be devoting this episode to defining the SWANA region, identifying anti-SWANA and anti-Arab discrimination, and differentiating between those terms and others we want to keep in mind throughout this series. Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist with a keen eye for detail and a passion for creative problem-solving. She brings a unique perspective to conversations about representation, using her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Amira can be found on most social media platforms @amiraoutloud, but she is primarily on threads @amiraoutloud2026 [https://www.threads.com/@amiraoutloud2026]. Her Substack [https://substack.com/@amiraoutloud] also has several blogs detailing anti-SWANA racism and breaking down why she uses the term SWANA. As promised, here are resources to check out: Books: Orientalism by Edward Said Reel Bad Arabs by Jack Shaheen Articles: MENA vs. SWANA and where Arab fits in [https://www.arabamerica.com/mena-vs-swana/] Standing ovations but no distribution: Films about Palestinians meet a divided Hollywood by Rebecca Keegan | Oct. 23, 2025 | Source [https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/films-about-palestinians-oscars-nominations-push-no-distribution-rcna238706?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=68fc05f4214ba80001617473] | Archive [https://archive.ph/96v9v] Missing & Maligned: The Reality of Muslims in Popular Global Movies by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative | June 2021 | PDF [https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-muslim-rep-global-film-2021-06-09.pdf] Hollywood’s problem with Arab representation (or a lack thereof) by Mina Tobya | Michigan Daily | Mar. 28, 2024 | Source [https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-side/hollywoods-problem-with-arab-representation-or-a-lack-thereof/] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20250529035539/https:/www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-side/hollywoods-problem-with-arab-representation-or-a-lack-thereof/] Khalas!: Institutionalized SWANA Erasure, Resilience, and Resistance In Higher Education by Journal of Leadership, Equity, and Research | Vol. 8 No. 1 | April 2022 | Source [https://journals.sfu.ca/cvj/index.php/cvj/issue/view/25/75] Erased or Extremists: The Stereotypical View of Muslims in Popular Episodic Series by USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative | September 2022 | PDF [https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-study-muslim-erased-or-extremists-20220901.pdf] The novel ‘Dune’ had deep Islamic influences. The movie erases them by Haris A. Durrani | The Washington Post | Oct. 28, 2021 | Source [https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/28/dune-muslim-influences-erased/] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20250315112147/https:/www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/28/dune-muslim-influences-erased/] Sonic Orientalism in the Dune Film Scores: Challenging Harmful Depictions of SWANA Culture by Amy Maatouk | Rising Voices in Ethnomusicology Vol. 21 No. 1 | PDF [https://cdn.ymaws.com/ethnomusicology.site-ym.com/resource/group/dc75b7e7-47d7-4d59-a660-19c3e0f7c83e/publications/21_1musicgenderandsexuality/maatouk_rv_21-1.pdf] Hollywood's Bad Arabs by Jack G. Shaheen | The Cairo Review of Global Affairs | Source [https://www.thecairoreview.com/essays/hollywoods-bad-arabs/] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20240421071653/https:/www.thecairoreview.com/essays/hollywoods-bad-arabs/] Dune: An accomplished escape into the realm of cinematic Arab appropriation by Hanna Flint | The New Arab | Oct. 1, 2021 | Source [https://www.newarab.com/features/dune-escaping-realm-cinematic-arab-subversion] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20250324095253/https:/www.newarab.com/features/dune-escaping-realm-cinematic-arab-subversion] Dune 2 and Hollywood's commodification of Muslimness by Nadeine Asbali | The New Arab | Feb. 27, 2024 | Source [https://www.newarab.com/opinion/dune-2-and-hollywoods-commodification-muslimness] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20250804070301/https:/www.newarab.com/opinion/dune-2-and-hollywoods-commodification-muslimness] ‘Dune 2’ is set thousands of years in the future — so why does it feel like a parable about Gaza? By Mira Fox | Forward | Mar. 4, 2024 | Source [https://forward.com/culture/588524/dune-2-gaza-israel-hamas-war/] | Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20260115155524/https:/forward.com/culture/588524/dune-2-gaza-israel-hamas-war/] Hind Rajab director refuses Berlin film festival award over Gaza war by The New Arab Staff | The New Arab | Feb. 18, 2026 | Source [https://www.newarab.com/news/hind-rajab-director-refuses-berlin-film-festival-award-over-gaza] | Archive [https://archive.ph/m69H7] Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. In our next episodes, we’re going to break down the misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood, Hollywood’s ties to US government, navigating the film industry as an Arab actor, and what authentic representation actually looks like. Until then, we highly recommend that you go watch Reel Bad Arabs now available for FREE (this education is FREE, y’all!) on YouTube. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 12:05 - Understanding Identity in the SWANA Region 18:01 - Orientalism 24:28 - The Importance of Representation in Education and Media 33:42 – Intro to the rest of our Arab American Heritage Month Podcast Series Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

PREVIEW: Arab (Mis)Representation in Hollywood

Starting this Thursday, April 9, we’re going to be breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs, talking about the destructive stereotypes that writer and lecturer, the late Jack Shaheen, talks about both in the film and in the book of the same title, and about what authentic representation looks like throughout Arab American Heritage Month. For so long our government has fed us these stereotypes repeatedly in movies manufacturing consent for global atrocities, so we’re going to dive into what to look for and how to advocate for the kind of representation that paints them as the multifaceted, complex human beings that they are. Subscribe to our podcast, Representation in Cinema, leave a comment about this topic, and share with family, friends, colleagues, peers, students, and grassroots organizations committed to liberation for marginalized communities! Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!