Muslims in hollywood: costume design

Hollywood has the power to shape our imaginations and thoughts. Have you ever wondered why Muslims or Arabs (who I refer to as ‘Easterners’ in this video) are rarely depicted as heroes or in a positive light in countless films since the early 20th century? Have you ever noticed in many scenes when 'Easterners' appear, the lighting turns dark, the music turns suspenseful or dramatic, and the story either takes a violent turn or is filled with negative stereotypes? For centuries, the East has influenced Western culture (ie, fashion, music, art, architecture, literature, food) but since the advent of cinema, Hollywood studios have rarely portrayed Muslim or Arab characters in a positive light. In this episode of Beauty and the East, I discuss some popular films and television shows of Hollywood that depict the East, their portrayals of Arabs/Afghans/Muslims ('Easterners') and discuss how costume design in films/t.v. over the past 100 years have influenced portrayals that have perpetuated stereotypes until today.