Representation of Terror and Terrorism in Two Arab Films
Paradise Now (2005) by Hany Abu-Assad and Horses of God (2012) by Nabil Ayouch
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21728909 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mustapha Hamil (0000-0003-2236-5302, Purdue University West Lafayette, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2021-10-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | CLCWeb Comparative Literature and Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1481-4374 • E-ISSN: 1481-4374 |
| Publisher | Purdue University (bepress) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.7771/1481-4374.3587 |
| OpenAlex | W3205339320 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 8 |
Middle Eastern violence and terrorism are not novel subjects in world cinema, especially American cinema. The Arab or Muslim other in these films is always presented as someone who epitomises a culture of violence, directed mostly against innocent civilians. Against the backdrop of Hollywood’s stereotypical representation of Middle-Easterners as advocate of indiscriminate terror and terrorism, Arab filmmakers have turned in recent years to the representation of terror and religious extremism. Paradise Now (Abu Assad 2005) and Horses of God (Ayouch 2012) address the controversial issue of suicide bombing with the same motivation: to examine the choice of suicide bombing within its immediate socio-economic and politico-religious milieu. Both works have raised eyebrows in the Arab world as well as in the West as to their unorthodox cinematographic representation of terrorism. For a reason. Both films tend to demystify the idea of martyrdom while still granting the suicide bombers their humanity
Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Art history · Criminology · Hollywood · Humanity · Islam · Literature · Movie theater · Paradise · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Terrorism · History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Law · Middle East Politics and Society · Philosophy · Religious studies · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |