For this photo project, WHO AM I?, we discuss the misrepresentation of Arabs and Middle-Easterners in the media, and what that means for many people.
WHO AM I?
Introduction
I’ve noticed in my life that many times, I tell people my ethnicity and they get uncomfortable. They don’t know what to think when I tell them my mom’s family is from Syria. It can freak them out. If they don’t say something outwardly racist, they might say something like “I’m so sorry,” as if my existence itself must be miserable. It doesn’t take long until you’re constantly reminded that the only perception people have about Arabs is from what they see on their screens. When you look at the film and television industry as a whole, the statistics can be grim.
According to a study done of over 900 movies, only 5% of the films with Arab roles depict normal, human characters.
Since the beginning of film and television, Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Easterners have been portrayed as barbaric. They are terrorists who are uncivilized, heartless, and primitive. There are common depictions of Arabs kidnapping or raping the ‘fair maiden,’ or constantly blowing themselves up. The Arab character is almost always the villain, they’re never the good guy.
In the news, conversations about the Middle East can be heartless. Many journalists, writers, newscasters, and politicians seem to talk about complex problems with the same attitude. “Those Muslims are the bad guys, and we are the good guys.”
It’s important to note that no two experiences are the same. The Middle East is a diverse place with Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Turks, Kurds, Persians, everyone having their own personal identities and experiences. With many of the large entertainment companies today saying they pride themselves on diversity and inclusion, it is frustrating that Arabs and Middle-Easterners are very rarely even mentioned. As an Arab-American myself, I care about this, and you should too.
For this documentary project, I discussed with people who are Arab and/or Middle Eastern different topics ranging from race, fear, and prejudice; to family, happiness, love, and most importantly, what it really means to be them. These are our stories.
This project is ongoing and will be continually updated. More on my instagram, @mattym.jpeg