Tarek Fahmy: Cultural Critic

In my thesis project I am dealing with stereotypes and one way to change them. Since I am an Egyptian-American the stereotypes that I want to change are directed towards Arabs in the USA. Generally, these stereotypes are all negative.

Many of these stereotypes are perpetuated by the media specifically Hollywood. Since “Hollywood and Washington spring from the same DNA”, Jack Velenti, these stereotypes are also evident in Washington’s arsenal.

One way to change these stereotypes and humanize Arabs in the western world is to have a lobby in Hollywood via an Arab owned production company.

(DIC), a state owned Dubai International Capital just bought a ’significant’ share of Sony. As you may or may not know, Sony bought the Hollywood giant Colombia Pictures in 1989. In effect, DIC bought a stake in Colombia pictures as well.

I want to design the identity of the ‘new’, Arab owned Colombia pictures. Further, I want to develop a medium sized subsidiary of Colombia pictures that specializes in the production of Arab American films/documentaries, and the like.

Lets go back to Jack Shaheen’s ‘Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People’ for a moment. Like I previously mentioned, Mr. Shaheen suggested that if an Arabic fund, individual, or corporation establishes a lobby in Hollywood by purchasing a production company that, over time, would change the Arab’s image in Hollywood. Further, since “Washington and Hollywood Spring From the same DNA” tht lobby could seep into the general culture and politics of the WEST.

I started to research potential companies/countries that would do this based on their current activities and ideologies.

The UAE became the prime candidate because of it’s ‘progressive’ image, cash rich economy, and it’s massive development projects.

I was going to pick any compnay or fund that seemed suitable and create then branding for that production company that they were buying.

While doing research on the matter I found out in the news that Dubai International Capital (DIC), a private equity company owned by the ruler of Dubai, said it has made a “substantial investment” in Sony. The exact numbers are not disclosed.

This is perfect since Sony owns Colombia pictures and my ‘fictitious’ Arabic company
has become a reality.

I am still thinking of developing the branding for the ‘new’ Colombia pictures that is now partially owned by the DIC.

So far this is where I stand in my research process.

Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated!

Tarek

Article Title: Dubai takes ’significant’ stake in Sony
LINK

State-owned Dubai International Capital makes investment in Japanese conglomerate.
“Hollywood and Washington spring from the same DNA.” Movie mogul Jack Valenti

After reading “Reel Bad Arabs”, Jack Shaheen, and watching the one hour documentary, I was thinking that it would be a kewl thesis topic to invent a fictitious Arab owned company that buys a Hollywood production studio and establishes a much needed Arabic lobby in Hollywood. Over time, that Arabic Hollywood voice would start to seep into western culture and politics in general, slowly changing the misleading ‘orientalist’ view of Arabs and painting a more humanistic picture of the peoples.

(DIC), a state owned Dubai International Capital just bought a ’significant’ share of Sony. As you may or may not know, Sony bought the Hollywood giant Colombia Pictures in 1989. In effect, DIC bought a stake in Colombia pictures as well. Will this be the start of eradicating the vilification of Arabs in Hollywood and culture in general or is it purely a financial endeavor on DIC’’s part?