Representation of Middle Easterners in Contemporary North American TV Series

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Through the Lens of Orientalism

2.1 Defining Geographies, Cultures, Languages and Religions

2.2 Orientalism

2.2.1 Critique towards Saïd’s Understanding of Orientalism

2.2.2 Versions of Orientalism

2.2.3 American Orientalism

2.3 Representing, Othering, Stereotyping

2.3.1 Representing

2.3.2 Othering

2.3.3 Stereotyping

3. Middle Easterners as Represented in Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie

3.1 Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie

3.2 The Ideological Frame

3.3 The Political Frame

3.4 The Issue Frames

3.4.1 Race

3.4.2 Religion

3.4.3 Gender

4. Conclusion

Objectives and Research Themes

This master's thesis examines the dichotomy between the East and the West, specifically focusing on how negative perceptions and stereotypes of Middle Easterners are constructed and perpetuated in contemporary North American television series, while also analyzing counter-narratives that challenge these representations.

• Application of Edward Saïd's Orientalism framework to modern media.
• Comparative analysis of the television series Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie.
• Deconstruction of "othering" and stereotyping processes in popular culture.
• Evaluation of media influence on political and social perceptions of the Middle East.
• Investigation of racial, religious, and gendered framing in fictional narratives.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Introduces the topic of Middle Eastern representation in North American television, establishing the research goal of analyzing Orientalist depictions.

2. Through the Lens of Orientalism: Provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation, defining key concepts such as Orientalism, representation, othering, and stereotyping.

3. Middle Easterners as Represented in Homeland and Little Mosque on the Prairie: Applies the theoretical framework to specific scenes in the two selected TV series, structured by ideological, political, and issue-based frames.

4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming how Homeland reinforces while Little Mosque on the Prairie challenges Orientalist tropes.

Keywords

Orientalism, Othering, Stereotyping, Homeland, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Media Representation, Middle East, Terrorism, Post-Colonialism, Identity Construction, Political Frame, Ideological Frame, Cultural Discourse, North American Television, Edward Saïd.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this master's thesis?

The work investigates the representation of Middle Easterners in contemporary North American television series, specifically analyzing how Orientalist frameworks are applied to construct the "Other" in popular media.

What are the primary theoretical pillars of this research?

The thesis utilizes Edward Saïd's concept of Orientalism, along with frameworks on representation, othering, and stereotyping, to deconstruct the media discourse surrounding the Middle East.

What is the overarching research question?

The study seeks to understand how negative or negotiating images of Middle Easterners are constructed in popular culture and how these shows influence the viewer's ability to establish knowledge about the Middle East.

What methodology is employed in this research?

The author performs a representational critique, using Schmidt's "mediated orientalism" framework to categorize the analysis into ideological, political, and issue-based frames.

Which television series serve as the case studies?

The analysis focuses on the US-American spy thriller Homeland and the Canadian sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie.

What distinguishes Homeland from Little Mosque on the Prairie in this study?

Homeland is shown to largely reinforce Orientalist stereotypes and binary oppositions, while Little Mosque on the Prairie actively negotiates and counters these stereotypes through humor and social critique.

How does the thesis handle the term "monster" in the context of the analyzed series?

The author explores Bloodsworth-Lugo's conceptions of the "monster on board" and "monster next door," illustrating how characters like Nicholas Brody are portrayed as internal threats to the stability of the West.

How does the work address gendered representations?

The thesis analyzes the "gender frame," highlighting how the veil is politicized and used as a symbol of victimization and oppression in Homeland, contrasted with more nuanced portrayals in the Canadian sitcom.