Hello, This blog is part of my Media Literacy Project. As a student of Communication and Mass Media at the University of New York in Prague I attend course of Media and Society. In this course I was asked to start my own blog about an issue which concerns me and is closely connected to Media and Society. I decided to discuss the portrayal of Islam in media.
As we all know media are full of stereotypes. This of course effects the way how we view certain things. Living in the Western World we often lack unbiased information about other cultures. It seems that constant clashes between East and West are taking its price. Western colonisation of numerous lands in East was not helpful in building relationships between East and West. It seems that the problem escalates more and more everyday. Media should help to clear this misunderstanding. Media with its power to inform society could introduce us different cultures and thus help peace. Instead media seem to look for sensations and profit. This of course does not help.
Islam being more a religion of the East is often misinterpreted by the West. It seems that the West found its new enemy in Islam. After the end of the Cold war Islam became the new menace for the West. We need to understand that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the West. The general negative position of media against Islam can backfire on the West. This atmosphere of “hatred against Islam” is giving a bigger chance for anti-West fundamentalism.
I believe Western media should get less ethnocentric and be an aid in peace and understanding among different cultures and religions. I intend to discuss the portrayal of Islam by media and thus raise awareness about this problem. I hope to make some people revalue their opinions. I hope to underline the importance of not blindly listening to what is told or introduced to us but to responsibly reflect each issue.
