Racist Imaginaries: Jews, Muslims, and the Exclusionary Power of Film

My paper critically examines the intersections between antisemitism and Islamophobia in the United States and Europe through representations in film. I attempt to elaborate on several intersections between antisemitism and Islamophobia: 1) the use of stereotypical tropes in film, 2) the legitimization of racial thinking, and 3) the similarities and differences between populist anti-Judaism, racial antisemitism and Islamophobia expressed in popular representations. Considering the historical intersection of antisemitism and Islamophobia speaks to broader themes including forms of social exclusion, stereotyping and media responsibility in incorporating civic diversity.

Several important works have commented on the “Orientalist” image of Muslims in United States’ and European’ media. Few scholarly attempts have been made to contrast these images with representations of Jewish people in 1920s-1940s film. By comparing these forms of media representation, we can gain insight into the interaction between media and public perceptions of minority groups. My research further elaborates on the responsibility of media in public discussions concerning national identities, citizenship values, and impacts forms of social exclusion. Discussions concerning the "racist imaginary" in film are particularly important given current concerns of immigration, rising xenophobia, and economic insecurities.