Hollywood has often been criticised for its one-dimensional portrayals of the Arab world. For too long, Arabs and Muslims have been cast as extremists on the silver screen and on television. But what is the best way to overcome these stereotypes?
Some of the Arab artists working on the hit television series Homeland had an idea. When asked to spray paint Arabic graffiti on the walls of a set for the show, they wrote phrases such as "Homeland is racist". By doing this, the artists succeeded in drawing attention to the issue in a creative way. In a statement, they said it "was our moment to make our point by subverting the message using the show itself".
If any good is to come of this act, it will be to open up a debate about why such stereotypes persist in the entertainment industry. Another way to overturn negative perceptions is for filmmakers to come to this region – the Homeland set was in Berlin, after all. Only then will the true stories of the region be told.
