Abstract

The US media has played an increasingly important role in shaping the Muslim identity. An Anti - Muslim rhetoric led by news channels only promoted fear and anxiety amongAmericans towards the Muslim world post 9/11. This paper explores one such news channel - CNN and its contribution towards demonizing, vilifying, and racializing the Muslim world hence, reducing it to one region and language. In doing so, the researcher contends the existence of a systemic web which operates in conjunction to maintain the dominant ideology about Muslims. By means of critical discourse analysis it is argued that CNN under the pretense of its liberal stance has managed to reproduce the same rhetoric which re- instates the many stereotypes existing with regard to Muslims. However, this research also examines the representation of Arabic language and the subtle ways in which fear and negative connotations around Arabic has been induced among the audience.

Presenters

Sara Mirza
Residence Director, Department of Residential Housing and Community Engagement, Northeastern University, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Media Cultures

KEYWORDS

Keywords: Representation, Arabic, Muslims, Arabs, CNN, Linguicism,Linguistic Ideologies

Digital Media

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