Raiders of the Lost Ark criticised by Muslim human rights group for 'stereotyping'

[Ste2652]

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1997959,00.html

Other films criticised include Raiders of the Lost Ark, where, say the authors, the Egyptian backdrop is portrayed using a stereotyped shorthand including veiled women hurrying through bazaars to the sound of snake-charming music.

I saw this in the newspaper today and, luckily, the article was also online. Thought it might yield an interesting discussion

Are they going too far with political correctness in films made purely as entertainment? Do they have a point?

Do keep in mind this can be a very touchy subject whilst you make your replies :P

[Moedred]

I love the scene in Crusade where the Muslim hirelings witness the power of the grail, and race off to convert.

I agree, the original Aladdin lyric "they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" is inaccurate. It should have been "cut off your head".

[surfengine]

I heard the nazi's were upset at their portrayal as well....

[René Belloq]

I agree, the original Aladdin lyric "they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" is inaccurate. It should have been "cut off your head".

What about "Where it's flat and immense, and the heat is intense" :confused:

[Katarn07]

Are they going too far with political correctness in films made purely as entertainment? Do they have a point?

Political correctness is going too far period. There are more important things to do in life than complain about how someone words something. And there are certainly better ways to spend ones time than look for political incorrectness in a movie that's a throwback to a time when there was no such thing as political correctness.

[Moedred]

What about "Where it's flat and immense
It's only a matter of time until they complain about this replacement lyric. "Barbaric" now refers to the heat, but they still complain with no mention of previous submission by Disney.

If the Indy 4 red line passes through the Muslim world, I hope the script isn't vetted by all the self-appointed advocacy groups. Kingdom of Heaven was, and the result is thoroughly unmemorable. Spielberg's SKG has kowtowed before, when all gender-specific references to God were removed from Prince of Egypt.

[monkey]

Women wearing veils? Oh no, we wouldn't want to "stereotype" an Arab country like that.

Next thing you know they'll be showing Irish people drinking Guiness, or Austrians skiing, Italians making spaghetti, or Mexicans with big hats playing mariachi music.

Oh how terrible!!!!

Good grief, give me a break!

I've traveled in the middle east. The Raiders scenes were pretty accurate.

Those political correctness people should just shut up. Really, I think just about everyone is tired of them.

[Tary]

These people take this film far to seriously. One could also say it stereotypes Americans as wild cowboys types, Germans as ruthless killers, and Brits as well meaning bumbling old intellectuals. Don't even get me started on the Indians and the Chinese in Temple of Doom. Also, one of the films best character is an Egyptian Muslim (admittedly, he was played by an English white guy).

[René Belloq]

Don't even get me started on the Indians and the Chinese in Temple of Doom.

Yeah is that true that some Indians eat bugs and snakes etc. because that's what we were told at school?

[IAdventurer01]

Assuming that these are semi-accurate portrayals of the culture, aren't these films in a way embracing the culture? If the attempt was made to mask what the region is actually like, wouldn't that imply that there is something inherently wrong with that culture that made it is necessary to hide reality? By showing Muslims as-is, I think that it is less offensive.

[Moedred]

http://www.indianajones.com/raiders/bts/news/f20060612/img/4_bg.jpg
The dude next to the bottle is portrayed accurately.

[Fish1941]

You know, if the Muslims feel insulted by what was shown in RAIDERS, then they feel insulted. Making caustic remarks about their culture or their complaints are not going to change anything. Why feel personally insulted about the complaints anyway, if it has nothing to do with you? Indiana Jones is not the creation of any of us.

[Doc Savage]

You know, if the Muslims feel insulted by what was shown in RAIDERS, then they feel insulted. Making caustic remarks about their culture or their complaints are not going to change anything. Why feel personally insulted about the complaints anyway, if it has nothing to do with you? Indiana Jones is not the creation of any of us.I don't think it's the remarks as much as it's the officious attitude that prompts them. A majority of these advocacy groups are hate-mongerers with a pretty flag. Besides, if you mess with Indy you mess with me!! ;)

[Baron Brunwald]

What are they complaining about? EVERY group is stereotyped.

[Doc Savage]

What are they complaining about? EVERY group is stereotyped.Some, like the Irish, just revel in it...(and, yes, I'm Irish by descent...)

[roundshort]

I heard that Monkeys were pissed. I think they may have even boycoted seeing the other Indy movies because of how the Monkey was a Nazi!

[JK_Antwon]

I heard that Monkeys were pissed. I think they may have even boycoted seeing the other Indy movies because of how the Monkey was a Nazi!
LOL! and snakes you can't forge them! Indiana Jones has given them a bad name too! LOL!

[landslidepurist]

I don't think they have any legitimate concerns. It's entertainment and I can't see how it's particularly offensive. The Indy films are too light hearted for that.

I feel similar about these complainers as I do about people who complain about sex on TV - why don't you just turn it off?