Weekly Research Seminar Series - Films through Orientalism: A critical study of Hollywood's portrayal of Arabs in Disney's Aladdin

Wednesday, 4 October 2023
4:00 PM GST
In-Person at Oasis Theatre and Online via MS Team

We are excited to announce that this Wednesday, 4th October, we will be hosting the first research seminar series of the new academic year 2023-24. This research seminar is special as it marks the first in-person seminar in over 3 years. We encourage all of you to attend this seminar in-person at Oasis Theatre at 4pm.

However, we continue to provide an option for colleagues, especially external ones, to join online, as the seminar will also be streamed concurrently.

Click here to join the meeting

At this Wednesday's research seminar, Ms. Deema Maghalseh and Dr. Ruta Vaidya will present their research work titled, “Films through Orientalism: A Critical Study of Hollywood's Portrayal of Arabs in Disney's Aladdin."

Wednesday Research Seminar Series

We are pleased to invite you to our Wednesday Research Seminar. It will be held in hybrid mode on 4th October from 4pm at Oasis Theatre and via Microsoft team platform. Wednesday Research Seminar Series was launched in 2008 and has featured more than 335 presentations to date. The seminars provide a forum for researchers to share their work. Presenters include faculty from Middlesex University Dubai and other universities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as researchers from other global institutions. Ruta and Deema will deliver seminar on:

“Films through Orientalism: A critical study of Hollywood's portrayal of Arabs in Disney's Aladdin

Presenters: Deema Maghalseh and Ruta Vaidya

Abstract

This research paper critically analyzes Hollywood's depiction of Arabs, specifically focusing on postcolonial theories in films. By examining Disney’s Aladdins (1992-2019) the study aims to draw parallels of the representations of Arabs using film elements such as visuals, narrative, character build-up, costume, and dialogue to detect patterns of Orientalist depiction. Additionally, the research aims to explore the power of image and visual communication in shaping ideologies about specific cultures and regions.  The paper is based on postcolonial theories in cinema, which contend that Hollywood ideologies influence film representations and that these ideologies emphasize the power relations between the West and the East. The paper also examines the impact of these reiterated media depictions on shaping public attitudes towards Arabs. Our study takes a methodological approach of qualitative film analysis that enables the identification of themes embedded within Orientalist understandings and perspectives. Overall, this paper advances knowledge empirically by analyzing Disney films that circulate and reinforce Orientalist representations. The study highlights the importance and relevance of critical engagement with media portrayals of cultures and the function of film in forming stereotypical perceptions of the world.   

Presenters

Ms. Deema Maghalseh is a Senior Lecturer in Media at Middlesex University Dubai. She teaches a variety of subjects across film, creative writing & journalism, PR branding and advertising programs. With an extensive background in the film, television, and radio industries, Deema has served as a producer, director, and sound engineer. She has contributed to numerous award-winning short and feature films in the MENA region, where she has worked as a writer, sound designer, and executive producer. Deema holds an MFA in Cinematic Arts from The Red Sea Institution for Cinematic Arts and a BA in Visual Arts from the University of Jordan. Her research interests revolve around exploring the impact of Postcolonialism in films and studying the influence of images on society. In addition to her role in media, Deema is also a graphic artist and voice talent, having provided her voice for various brands in the region. Notably, her voice was featured by Emirates NBD Bank as the first virtual assistant in the Middle East.

Dr Ruta Vaidya is a senior lecturer in the Media department at Middlesex University, Dubai. She teaches across three programmes of Advertising, Digital Media, and Journalism. She holds a doctoral degree in sociology from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Prior to pursuing the PhD, she received a double master’s in journalism and media Studies from Erasmus Mundus- from three European Universities. She has collaborated on several research projects across different disciplines, including with students, experienced and new researchers. Ruta recently won the Innovation Award for Creative Collaboration for an action-oriented initiative that she launched with a colleague from Education at Middlesex.

Look forward to seeing you at the seminar!

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