perfidy

Arab News, an English-language daily that covers the Arab world, discusses the new sandy action flick "Hidalgo". The movie is based around a hoss race across the desert, ca 1900, in which uber-stud Viggo Mortensen out-hosses the locals.

Apparently the film has run afoul of culturally sensitive Arabs everywhere due to portrayals of Arab characters conforming to unspecified stereotypes. Ibrahim Cooper, head of CAIR, said:

"Given the growing prejudice against Islam, Muslims and Arabs, we believe a film with this type of dialogue and imagery could have a negative impact on the lives of ordinary American Muslims and Arab-Americans", and adds, “We sincerely hope that anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry will not be added to historical inaccuracy in a film that is being marketed to families".

So.... we all know it's just a movie right? Like, for fun?

If you read the whole article, you'll find that Disney agreed to give CAIR an advance screening. You know, to make sure it wouldn't upset people of Arab decent or Muslims in America. Seemingly they failed, but the larger point is unmistakable. And ironically the new stereotype that Hooper and other commenters on this piece perpetuate is that of the dour, literalist, humorless Arab rumor monger who sees a Jewish plot behind every "negative" portrayal of Islam or its followers, whether in real life or in make-believe.

It's interesting that the Arab press, which is largely anti-American and its reportage can be cover for terroristic propaganda, blames America for its own portrayal in modern media. Yet for a fanciful adventure story, set well over 100 years ago, and a movie to boot, THAT's bigotry.

It seems that this is the future of filmmaking. Develop an idea, wash it through the lawyers; produce a rough cut, wash it through the focus groups; edit a final cut, wash it through every ethnic, cultural, fraternal, and linguistic organization conceivable; once more through the lawyers, then to your local megaplex for you to sort of enjoy. If there's any fun left in the thing.