Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People

Throughout its history, Hollywood has been criticized for the its stereotypical portrayal of minority groups: the incompetent black, the savage Native American, the sinister Asian. But while the film industry has evolved to more accurately depict most of these groups, Jack Shaheen argues that Arabs remain the "bad guys" of the silver screen. From bedouin bandits to gun-toting terrorists, Shaheen says Arabs are not fairly represented on the big screen. This hour, Shaheen examines the roots of Hollywood's anti-Arab bias and suggests that this bias has tainted Americans' view towards the Middle East.

Guests:

Jack Shaheen, Professor Emeritus of Mass Communications at Southern Illinois University and author of "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People"