Movie Industry, Public Opinion and the Making of Foreign Policy: Syriana
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People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Larbi Ben M’hidi University-Oum El Bouaghi Faculty of Letters and Languages Department of English Movie Industry, Public Opinion and the Making of Foreign Policy: Syriana (2005) and Body of Lies (2008) A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Anglo-American Studies By: DABAL Zitouna Supervisor: Filali Bilel Examiner: Badi Rima 2016-2017 Candidate Declaration Form I am Dabal Zitouna Candidate of Master at the Department of English, Larbi Ben M’hidi University, do hereby declare that the dissertation entitled The American Movie Industry, Public Opinion and the Making of Foreign Policy: Syraina(2005) and Body of Lies(2008). in partial fulfillment of MA Degree Anglo- American Studies is my own original work, and it has not previously, in its entirety or in part, been submitted at any university. Date: …. /…. / 2017 ID number………………….... Signature of the candidate ……………………. I Dedication My warmest gratitude is first and most extended to my fathers’ soul and to my mother who never get tired to pray for me in each Salat and encouraging me morally and physically. Second, to my dear brother Houssem, who always support me to carry on and never let me alone. To my best friends, Rania Sabrine and Hakim. Finally, I would like to express my thanks to my dear friends: Rahima, Nadjet, Habiba and everyone who believed in me. II Acknowledgments : Praise be to Allah, most Glorious, who helped us to complete this modest work, and without his help, none of this would be possible. I am, particularly, grateful to the best person I ever seen, if I can describe him with one word I would say that he is an expensive diamond, my academic advisor Mr Filali Bilel, he always been my first source of academic inspiration,motivation, and critical discussion. His guidance, high standards, patience, taught me a lot.Second, am so grateful to Mr. Bouri, Mr Aaid and Mss Achiri. Also, I would like to acknowledge Mss Maameri Fatima who helped us through the year on our dissertation especially on the seminar module. I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to my examiner Badi Rima for her critical thinking. Finally, to everyone who has contributed to the realization of this study including the teachers of English Department and the administration. III Abstract This dissertation reflects the history of stereotyping process in the American movie industry as the endeavor is to examine the role of movies in affecting the public opinion and shaping the political decision towards the Middle East. Distorted images against the Middle Easterners mainly Muslims are established through different means like books and journals. Motion pictures is also exploited to spread such an image whether directly or indirectly, as visual lens have a tremendous role in affecting the heart and the mind of viewers more than written tools many political messages are screened. The research is based on the selection of two famous movies Syriana (2005) and Body of Lies (2008) as case studies. These films reveal notions of ‘otherness’ and symbolism which are the basis of ‘‘Modern Orientalism’’ that in turn are linked with Islam and terrorism. The Investigation concludes that the Arab-Muslims are portrayed negatively in most American movies, and it is an extension of American ideology that has embedded within imperialistic interests in the Middle East. Key words: American movie industry, stereotyping, Modern Orientalism , Arab-Muslims, public opinion, imperialistic interests, Middle East. IV Résumé Ce mémoire reflète l'histoire du processus de stéréotypes dans l'industrie cinématographique américaine, car elle tente d'examiner le rôle des films dans l'influence de l'opinion publique et l'élaboration des décisions politiques envers le Moyen-Orient. Des images déformées contre les Moyen-Orient, principalement les musulmans se sont manifestés par différents moyens comme les livres et les journaux. Les images animées ont également été exploitées pour diffuser ces images directement ou indirectement, car les lentilles visuelles ont un rôle énorme en affectant le cœur et l'esprit des téléspectateurs plus que des outils écrits. De nombreux messages politiques sont examinés. La recherche basée sur la sélection de deux films célèbres Syriana (2005) et Body of Lies (2008) en tant qu'études de cas. Ces films révèlent des notions d'altérité et de symbolisme qui sont à la base de ‘‘l'orientalisme moderne’’ et les relient à l'islam et au terrorisme. Par conséquent, ce Mémoire conclut que les Musulmans arabes sont représentés négativement dans la plupart des films américains, et c'est une extension de l'idéologie américaine qui a intégré les intérêts impérialistes. Mots clés: industrie cinématographique américaine, stéréotypes, ‘‘l'orientalisme moderne’’, Musulmans Arabes, opinion publique, intérêts impérialistes, Moyen-Orient. V ملخص تعكس هذه المذكرة تاريخ عملية التنميط في السينما اﻷمريكية، كما تهدف إلى دراسة دور اﻷفﻻم في التأثير على الرأي العام و تشكيل القرارات السياسية تجاه الشرق اﻷوسط. تم استعراض صور مشوهة ضد معظم سكان الشرق اﻷوسط و خاصة المسلمين منهم و ذلك في مختلف وسائل اﻹعﻻم كالكتب و المجﻻت و كذلك تم استغﻻل اﻷفﻻم لنشر كل ما هو سلبي سواء كان بطريقة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة، و ﻷن الوسائل السمعية البصرية لها دور هائل في التأثير على قلوب و عقول المشاهدين أكثر من الصحافة المكتوبة فقد تم استغﻻلها لنشر جملة من الرسائل السياسية . هذه اﻷطروحة استندت على دراسة فلمين شهيرين "سيريانا")2005( و"بادي أوف ﻻيز")2008( و كﻻهما يكشفان على مفاهيم "الغيرية" و الرمزية المتجذرة تحت غطاء سياسة اﻹستشراق الجديدة و التي تم ربطها باﻹسﻻم و اﻹرهاب. أخيرا وليس آخرا ، كشفت هذه الدراسة على أن معظم اﻷفﻻم اﻷمريكية تصور العرب المسلمين بشكل مسيء و منافي للحقيقة وهذا ما يفسر بأن هذا التهميش هو إمتداد لﻷيدلوجية اﻷمريكية التي تهدف إلى تحقيق مصالح إمبريالية في منطقة الشرق اﻷوسط. الكلمات المفتاحية: السينما اﻷمريكية، عملية التنميط، 'اﻹستشراق الحديث'، العرب المسلمين، الرأي العام، المصالح اﻹمبريالية، الشرق اﻷوسط. VI List of Acronyms CIA : Central Intelligence Agency. CPI : Committe of Public Information. FBI : Federal of Bureau Investigation. SUV : Sport Utility Vehicule. WMD : Weapon of Mass Destruction. VII Table of Content Dedication…………………………………………………………………………I Acknowledgment…………………………………………………………………II Abstract………………………………………………………………………….III Résumé…………………………………………………………………………...IV V………………………………………………………………………………ملخص List of Acronyms………………………………………………………………...VI Table of Contents………………………………………………………………VII General Introduction……………………………………………………………..1 Chapter One :The Movie Industry, Public Opinion and the Making of Foreign policy…………………………………………………………………….5 .I. The Movie Industry…………………………………………………………...5 1. The Development of the Movie Industry …………………….............5-7 2. The Significance of the Movie Industry………………………….....7-10 3. Genral Overview about Stereotyping…………………………........10-13 4. American Orientalism and the Image of Arab-Muslims…………...13-17 II. The Impact of Movie Industry on the Public Opinion…………….……...17 1. The Role of Motion Pictures……………………………………….17-18 VIII 2. Positive Portrayal of Arab and Muslims………………………… 18-22 3. Negative Portrayal of Arabs and Muslims…………………………20-22 4. Categories of Generalization in the American Movies………........22-25 III. The Making of the American Foreign Policy in the Middle East…..........25 1. The American-Middle Eastern Relation……………………….......25-27 2. American Movie Industry and Foreign Policy in the Middle East...27-28 3. Orientalist Discourse in the Declaration of ‘War on Terror’………28-29 4. ‘Otherness’ in the American Politics and Movie Industry ………...29-34 End Notes…………………………………………………………………………35 Chapter Two :The Representation of Arabs and Muslims in the American Movies : Syriana(2005) and Body of Lies(2008)………………………………...36 I.Syriana (2005)………………………………………………………………....37 1.The Main Cast of the Movie………………………………………..37-38 2.Plot Description……………………………………………………..38-41 3.Analysis of the Movie……………………………………………....41-51 4.Critics Meet Syriana………………………………………………...51-52 II.Body of Lies(2008)…………………………………………………………....52 1.The Main Cast of the Movie………………………………………..52-53 2.Plot Description……………………………………………………..53-55 IX 3.Analysis of the Movie………………………………………............55-60 4.Critics Meet Body of Lies……………………………………….…..61-62 End Notes………………………………………………………………………………..63 General Conclusion…………………………………………………………………64-66 Works Cited..……………………………………………………………………..…67-71 1 General Introduction The motion picture industry became the principle hotspot for the moviemakers to venture American foreign policy since its establishment. All through the twentieth century, the film business has turned into a noteworthy apparatus for the American government to advance US legislative issues. Since this time, Hollywood had accomplished its point of transmitting American strategy to the world by making an interpretation of it into motion pictures. Notwithstanding the Hollywood business, there were different types of passing on US strategy, for the most part, books and music; however, they didn't coordinate the pretended by the film business. Besides, the movies that Hollywood delivered were more about the plot, foes of the United States and also the present ones. The significance of Hollywood lies in the way that it is viewed as a source of perspective because of its viability in planning and spreading the message that the moviemakers need to pass on. Its significance and its part additionally lie in the way that it can impact the Americans individuals' assessment specifically,