Post 9/11 and the media

What are the issues raised regarding representation of ethnic minority groups?

Since 9/11, the media have prejudice behaviour towards ethinic minorities, in particular muslims and groups from middle eastern countries. They make audiences feel that like the group that did the attacks, most ethinic minorities pose a threat to society and this is called orientalism.

This can be seen in texts like the news, where examples like "muslims buring poppies" and "christians burning the qu'ran" still managed represent all muslims as negative people but only one man as wanting to burn their holy book who in the end, apologies and was forgotton about.

The film Four Lions (Morris, 2010) is about 5 muslim extremists who plan to bomb their area. Though looking at a very serious theme and topic, the text is a black comedy and mocks these 5 people, by putting them in ridiculous and comical situations. By making the matter comical, it makes the text more approachable, but also negativly represents muslims as violent and destructive but also silly and incompetent.

This however contrasts from West is West (Emmony,2010)the sequel to East is East. According to a Guardian review, though its focused around being a British Muslim and the struggles they have to face, it seems to ignore major events like 9/11 and its effects in society. The reviewer said:

"anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the current turmoil among British Muslims, or even just some sense of what lies behind Pakistan's current troubles, will leave disappointed – as a chronicler of Pakistan, Khan-Din is concerned to present the most harmless, cheery view possible....Think of all that's happened since 1999. You wouldn't have guessed it from this."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/19/west-is-west-review-pakistan

This suggests that either the media has moved on from the negative post 9/11 attitudes towards Muslims, or that when faced with representing Muslims, they would rather ignore the real issues that still unfortunatly exist.