A look at how Arabs have been villified within Hollywood - from cinema's earliest days to contemporary blockbusters that feature machine-gun wielding, bomb-exploding "evil" Arabs.

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Arabs in the Media
Since 9/11, Arabs, Muslims and terrorists have become conflated into one identity for many Americans, fed by stereotypes in the U.S. media.  In this 4 hour special, Link TV deconstructs how Hollywood portrays Arabs in film and television; and we then show you how Arabs and Muslims are telling their own stories—through new documentaries, and special programs during the Holy month of Ramadan.

Reel Bad Arabs  (2 hours)
From Bedouin bandits and belly-dancing maidens to cruel terrorists and sinister sheiks… Arab stereotypes are alive and well in Hollywood. But how are these negative images affecting our real relationships with the Arab world?  And how, in turn, does tension in the Middle East lead to more “bomb-throwing Arabs” in the movies?  In the world television premiere of Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, Professor Jack Shaheen draws from Hollywood Blockbusters to obscure oldies, to reveal a pattern that may surprise you.

Hosted by journalist Gina Smith, this special also explores the impact of new films by Middle Eastern directors that offer humorous, nuanced depictions of Arabs.  Media professor, Dina Ibrahim, helps us explore the roots of stereotypes in film and television.