Introduction
The portrayal of Islam in media is discussed in “Fleas in the Sheepskin,” a chapter written by Kendra Salois and published in the book Islam in Popular Culture edited by Karin van Niekerk, Mark Levine, and Martin Stokes in 2016. This chapter examines the media’s depiction of Muslims and its impact on the West’s view of Islam. The author maintains that how Islam is depicted in the media significantly influences how non-Muslims view Islam.
The Salois Chapter Analysis
The chapter argues that Muslims are often stereotyped and portrayed in a one-dimensional light in the media. According to Salois (2016), unfavorable perceptions and biases against Muslims are perpetuated by the media’s portrayal of them as violent and fanatical (p. 74). Since 9/11, Islamophobia has increased, making this image all the more harmful (Salois, 2016). According to Salois, the media should exercise more excellent care when depicting Muslims and work toward providing a more balanced depiction of the faith and its adherents.
Popular culture, more than ever impacts people’s thoughts and feelings about the world. It can affect how individuals feel, what they think, and what they do. However, it has also been said that popular culture is to blame for propagating harmful attitudes and stereotypes. Salois (2016) argues that mainstream media may effectively combat prejudice and sexism (p. 78). Some works of popular culture are cited as attempts to counteract preconceptions of Islam.
The movie The Visitor is a good illustration of this type of film since it shows a mutually beneficial friendship between an American guy and a Syrian refugee (Salois, 2016, p. 81). The video presents Muslims in a positive light, showing them to be regular individuals with the same ambitions and dreams as everyone else. This film wonderfully exemplifies the power of popular culture to challenge prejudice and foster compassion. The film’s positive depiction of Muslims responds to the negative portrayal and stereotyping frequently appearing in the media. Individuals of different cultures and origins may coexist peacefully and respectfully, contributing to a more accepting and diversified society.
The O’Toole Article Discussion
The article by O’Toole (2019) piqued my interest enough to research the subject. The article reports on a display in New York featuring Muslim female artists’ work. The artists are Muslim women working to dispel preconceptions about their community via their work. For instance, one artist fashioned a statue of a lady in a headscarf out of repurposed newspaper articles that promoted harmful preconceptions about Muslim women. Through her work, the artist hopes to change people’s negative perceptions of Muslim women.
The article’s focus on the power of art to combat prejudice and stereotypes makes a connection between Islam and popular culture. According to Barendregt (2011), the exhibition challenges the negative preconceptions routinely propagated in the media by showcasing more nuanced and complex depictions of Muslim women (p.237). The show demonstrates how art from the mainstream may help people open their minds and hearts to Islam and its adherents.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the book Islam and Popular Culture emphasizes the need for accurate portrayals of Muslims in the media and the power of art to combat prejudice. A recent piece on Muslim women artists published by Al Jazeera further highlights the significance of art and culture in fostering an appreciation and knowledge of Islam. Everyone should make it a personal mission to learn as much as possible about Islam and its adherents to combat the negative misconceptions in Western culture.
References
Barendregt, B. (2011). Pop, politics and piety: Nasyid boy band musik in Muslim Southeast Asia. In Weintraub, A. (Ed.), Islam and popular culture in Indonesia and Malaysia (pp. 235-256). Routledge.
O’Toole, G. (2019). Exploring the influence of Muslim culture on the West. Al Jazeera. Web.
Salois, K. (2016). Fleas in the sheepskin. In Nieuwkerk, K. V., LeVine, M., & Stokes, M. (Eds.), Islam and popular culture (pp. 364-382). University of Texas Press.