Introduction
Islam is currently portrayed as an intensely violent religion, which is against the western values. The obsession of mainstream media in tinged with the negative portrayal of Muslims and depicts them as fanatical, bigoted, violent, or as terrorists and extremists. Media also calls out against the intentions of Muslims all over the world and infers that they support the fanatical cause of terror organizations (Espiritu, 2016). The media coverage of Islam and related issues changed dramatically after the events of 9/11. The terrorist activity brought Islam to the forefront of media attention. Since then, the media coverage of Islam has increased significantly, as every event and action where perpetrators are Muslims is considered as a terrorist activity (MediaSmarts, n.d.). Negative stereotype of Islam has become a common phenomenon, and media outlets are hell-bent on developing and showing only a negative face of Islam.
Purpose and Research Method
The purpose of the proposal is to prove that the media stereotypes Islam as a violent religion. The research will identify how media through its several forms portrays Islam in a negative form and create a perception among the masses in the western world. The negative, evil and oppressive portrayal of Islam is seen constantly in several media forms. Research has been conducted through several online sources where negative portrayal of Islam has been analysed. In addition, several examples will be given of different media sources using different facets of Islam to fashion their propaganda against Islam. Overall, on the basis of this research, the effect of the media propaganda will be analysed and implications will be drawn on the society.
Relevant Research
TV & Movies
Television and movies have a major role to play in shaping the opinion of the masses. The content presented to the television and film audience influences their attitude and behaviour towards Islam and the followers of the religion. Popular TV series such as Homeland have a major role to play in developing perception of its audience. With most of the show focused on Islamic terror activities in different parts of the world, it is obvious that the viewers of the show might develop bigoted views of Muslims all over the world. The audience learns from the show that the world is under threat from Islamic terrorists who are willing to lay down their life and believe they are fighting for Islam (Beaumont, 2012).
News Media
The news media is probably most responsible for creating the negative image of Islam. News channels such as Fox News, CNN, etc. are probably the most culpable for this crime. Especially, Fox News who is known for their Republican tied conservative reporting newscasters such as Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Megan Kelly, etc. have the power to influence millions of people who watch them on aregular basis. Their Islamophobic reporting where Muslims are chastised for any possible infraction, even following their religion and its practices. One such example is of a Fox News correspondent interviewing Reza Aslan, a Scholar of religion about his interest in Christianity and writing a book on Jesus Christ (TYT, 2013).
Stereotype of Women
Another common Islamic stereotype in the media is the portrayals of women in Islam.
In the media, Muslim women are presented as either a strong feminist facing oppression or victims of male superiority. Media chastises Islam for ensuring the marginalization of women and providing women with an unequal position in society. Due to these portrayals of Islam, the common phrases used for describing Muslim women are segregated, freedom, human rights, insults, extremism or veil. Crime dramas such as Criminal Minds often portray Muslim women as victims of domestic violence in need of help from the system (Media Smart, n.d.).
Implications
According to data collected on religious protagonists by MediaTenor. In 2013, news stories showed other major religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism as positive religions, whereas Islam was given completely negative coverage. Also, Pope Francis is shown as the mainstream religious leader of Catholicism, whereas Islam is represented by extremists such as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Bridge Team Initiative, 2015). Post 9/11, the coverage has increasingly worsened as the western media developed as propaganda to go against the religion of the people who committed the crime. Also, the media chose Islam as the fall guy as it was easier for people to relate with news reports as the public already developed a certain amount of hate for the terrorists. For example, every attack in America is considered a mass shooting, unless the perpetrators are identified as Islamists. Then, they become terrorists. The implication of media portrayal is that people learn to believe that Islam is a violent religion and Muslims as terrorists or supporters of terrorists.
Conclusion
Media portrayal of Islam has clearly been negative and Muslims are considered bigoted fanatics who are either terrorists or supporters of terrorists. Research of the current news and other popular form of media reveal that Islam is presented a religion of violence where women are treated as inferior to men. Since 9/11, media have worked as a channel for displaying the negatives of the Islamic world, leaving many people in the west to believe that Muslims are evil extremists and their behaviour is cause by the religion they follow. The main implication of this action from the media is that most of the coverage received by Islam turns out to be negative and people view terrorists as the real face head of Islam.
References
Beaumont., P. (2012, 13 October). Homeland is brilliant drama. But does it present a crude image of Muslims?. Retrieved 7 March 2016 from, http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/oct/13/homeland-drama-offensive-portrayal-islam-arabs
Bridge Team Initiative. (2015, April 24). Retrieved 7 March 2016 from, http://bridge.georgetown.edu/new-study-analyzes-media-coverage-of-islam-over-time/
Espiritu., B.F. (2016, 29 February). Islamophobia and the “Negative Media Portrayal of Muslims”. Retrieved 7 March 2016 from, http://www.globalresearch.ca/islamophobia-and-the-negative-media-portrayal-of-muslims/5440451
Media Smarts. (n.d.). Media Portrayals of Religion: Islam. Retrieved 7 March 2016 from, http://mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/religion/media-portrayals-religion-islam
TYT. (31 July 2013). Fox News Tries to Defend the 'Worst Interview Ever'. Retrieved 8 March 2016 from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwpdwpjCV-Q
