Representations of Islam and Muslims in Film

Abstract

For decades now, the cinematic and televisual depiction of Islam in the Western media has often been reduced to a narrow set of negative stereotypes closely linked to the infamous 9/11 incident. As film and television play a powerful role in shaping public perceptions of Islam and Muslims, recent scholarship has emphasized the need to examine these representations more critically and to highlight alternative voices, that represent the rich traditions and practices of Islam. This issue offers a wide-ranging collection of studies on how Islam and Muslims are depicted on screen with a general focus on recently released films. Contributions address diverse topics, including Shia traditions in Iranian and international cinema, Palestinian filmmaking and questions of gender and identity, as well as Muslim diasporas in Europe or the United States, and the aesthetic strategies of self-orientalism. Together, they shed light on the interplay of religion, culture, and media, offering fresh perspectives on various aspects of the way, Islam, its rich tradition, and Muslims are portrayed in TV series and movies.