1. Media and Collective Identity
Media representations post 9/11
Islam
J Bell 25/11/2015
2. Aim to debate and critique Contemporary Media
Issues
• Review students evaluation of contemporary
media issues (04/11/2015) .
• Research media representation and post 9/11
representations of Islam
• - Learners to update online blog and
development diary / production log.
4. Contemporary Media Issues
Mediation
• Is the process of selection and shaping, creating
meaning from an original event..
• An event which is mediated is placed within the
systems of values of an institution, (e.g. News of the
world, Guardian, CH4 News.)
• Their version of reality is represented to the public
• Mediation is the process through which
representations are created.
5. Collective Identity
What is identity?
• Identity can be argued to be something unique
to each of us that we assume is more or less
consistent (and hence the same) over time…our
identity is something we uniquely possess: it is
what distinguishes us from others.
David Buckingham 2008 argues identity is
complicated/ complex.
6. Collective Identity
Collective identity
• Collective identity: the individuals sense of
belonging to a group who share a set of
traditions and values, (part of personal identity).
• Representation: any consideration of a
‘collective identity’ must take into account the
role that representation plays within the of the
construction of a media text.
7. Collective Identity
What collective identity can mean
• Not just representations from mainstream media
but also through self construction by users of
media.
• “ A focus on Identity requires us to pay closer
attention to the ways in which media and
technologies are used in everyday life and their
consequences for social groups” David Buckingham
• Communities formed from shared identity. e.g.
age/gender/ethnicity/political ideas etc.
8. Collective Identity
TASK
• List as many items as you
can which you think
represent young people.
This list can include
household items, locations,
food, sports, transport and
celebrities.
10. Collective Identity
David Gauntlett
• identity is now consciously constructed, and the
media provides some of the tools to help us
construct our identities. The media contains a huge
number of messages about identity and acceptable
lifestyles.
At the same time the public have their own diverse
set of feelings. The media and media consumers are
engaged in a dialogue in which neither overpowers
the other.
11. Collective Identity
Anthony Giddens
• There is a social structure which shapes our lives
(traditions, institutions, moral codes, established
ways of doing things), but it relies on individuals
following these structures.
• When they act differently the social structure can
change. Structuration is the process in which
human agency and social structure are in a
constant relationship ± the social structure is
reproduced by the repetition of acts by individual
people (and can therefore change)
12. Contemporary Media Issues
Mediation
• Is the process of selection and shaping, creating
meaning from an original event..
• An event which is mediated is placed within the
systems of values of an institution, (e.g.News of the
world, Guardian, CH4 News.)
• Their version of reality is represented to the public
• Mediation is the process through which
representations are created.
13. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
• A review of the evidence relating to the
representation of Muslims and Islam in the
British media
• Dr Dr Chris Allen 24th October 2012
Source: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-
sciences/social-policy/IASS/news-events/MEDIA-ChrisAllen-APPGEvidence-
Oct2012.pdf
14. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
• 4% of the British public claim that they know 'nothing or
next to nothing about Islam’
• 64% of the British public claim that what they do know is
‘acquired through the media’
• Research from 2006 suggests that the press coverage
relating to Muslims and Islam in British National
newspapers had increased by approximately 270% over
preceding decade
• 91% of that coverage was deemed negative
• 84% of press coverage represented Islam and Muslims
either as ‘likely to cause damage or danger’ or as ‘operating
in a time of intense difficulty or danger’
18. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
What does jihad mean?
• The word "jihad" is widely used, though often
inaccurately, by Western politicians and media.
• In Arabic, the word means "effort" or "struggle". In
Islam, it could be an individual's internal struggle
against baser instincts, the struggle to build a good
Muslim society, or a war for the faith against
unbelievers.
In what way does the media use of Jihad
represent/misrepresent Islam?
19. 23/11/2015
Record complaints for Sun
UK Muslim 'jihadi sympathy'
story
The new press regulator has
received a record number of
complaints about a Sun
story which claimed nearly
one in five UK Muslims has
"sympathy for jihadis".
Question?
In your opinion, are these
statistics true?
23. • Does the public accept negative
media representations of Islam?
• How might Gidden’s theory on
structuration apply to Media
representations of islam?
24. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
Viral Media response to Islam
Riaz Khan: Facebook (947,692 Views)
• https://www.facebook.com/riaz.khan.399826/vid
eos/10153806656374973/
• http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/24/ria
z-khan-rupert-murdoch-jihadi-sympathy-poll-
video_n_8636634.html
25. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
Research from (2007) set out that the consequences of
this type of media coverage was:
• Likely to provoke and increase feelings of insecurity,
suspicion and anxiety amongst non-Muslims;
• Likely to provoke feelings of insecurity, vulnerability
and alienation amongst Muslims, and in this way to
weaken the Government’s measures to reduce and
prevent extremism;
• Unlikely to help diminish levels of hate crime and acts
of unlawful discrimination by non-Muslims against
Muslims;
26. Post 9/11 representations of Islam
Tuesday 17th November, Guardian Newspaper
…. Reciting a passage from the Qur’an, he translated it as: “Do
good to relatives, orphans, the needy, the neighbour who is near
of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, to the companion at your
side and to the traveller.” Haltingly, he explained: “That, to me, is
what Islam is about. Be kind to people, family and strangers
alike, and love them.”
Eastenders representations of Islam…
28. Contemporary Media Issues
Facts about Islam
• As of 2010, Christianity was by far the world's
largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion
adherents, nearly a third (31%) of all 6.9
billion people on Earth. Islam was second,
with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23% of the
global population.
29. Contemporary Media Issues
Facts about Islam
• As of 2010, Christianity was by far the world's
largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion
adherents, nearly a third (31%) of all 6.9
billion people on Earth. Islam was second,
with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23% of the
global population.
31. Contemporary Media Issues
Facts about Islam
Demographics of the muslim population showing a large presnce within the
middle east and africa and up to 7 – 15% of the population in Russia and America.
UK Muslim population in 2011 as ~2,706,066, 4.5% of the population
32. Contemporary Media Issues
Facts about Islam
Basic articles of faith
Muslims have six main beliefs.
• Belief in Allah as the one and only God
• Belief in angels
• Belief in the holy books
• Belief in the Prophets...
e.g. Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus).
Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet.
• Belief in the Day of Judgement...
The day when the life of every human being will be assessed to decide whether they go to heaven or hell.
• Belief in Predestination...
That Allah has the knowledge of all that will happen.
Muslims believe that this doesn't stop human beings making free choices.
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/belief
33. Task one
• Consider fundamental beliefs of Muslims
compared to Christianity….
• If both religions share a similar belief system
why are media representations in the West so
different?
34. Contemporary Media Issues
Question & Homework task
Further viewing
Is Britain racist : you need to contextualise the information
sourced within the debate of representations of Islam and
discrimination…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06g55y0/is-britain-racist
Play the above video.
• View on time line 8:51 – 12:00 Muslim women, racism and dress.
• How does this video relate to Islamophobia?
http://www.channel4.com/news/media/pdfs/Cardiff%20Final%20Report.pdf
35. Contemporary Media Issues
Case study
The Niqab Debate (Guardian)
For further reading follow this link Islamic veil (The Guardian)
The niqab debate: 'Is the veil the biggest issue we face in the UK?'
The long-running argument about full-face veils has erupted again. Home Office
minister Jeremy Browne has called for a national debate, but do we really need
one? Don't tell women what to wear, say three leading Muslims
In July, Tory MP Philip Hollobone, who has been pursuing this subject for some
years, introduced his Face Coverings (Prohibition) bill – otherwise known as the
"ban-the-burqa bill". This stated "a person wearing a garment or other object
intended by the wearer as its primary purpose to obscure the face in a public
place shall be guilty of an offence". It is worth noting Muslims make up only
around 4.8% of the UK population – and it has been estimated that only a tiny
percentage of that population veils their face.
36. Contemporary Media Issues
Case study
the judge in her case ruled that she must remove it when giving evidence, but
could wear it at other times during the trial.
• Review the article in what way is the article balanced.
• Highlight the different arguments in favour of and against the use of the
veil. (add extracts of the article to support your argument).
The Niqab Debate (Guardian)
Islamic veil (The Guardian)
Back in August, a trial started at Blackfriars
crown court, in which a Muslim woman was
accused of intimidating a witness. The accused
woman wears a niqab – a full-face veil that
leaves only a slit for the eyes – and had
intended to wear it in court. This Monday,
37. Contemporary Media Issues
Case study
• Review the articles in what way is the article balanced/biased.
• In what way do the tabloid’s approach to the news differ to the Guardian- broad
sheets
The Niqab Debate
The Sun
38. Contemporary Media Issues
Case study
• Review the articles in what way is the article balanced/biased.
• In what way do the tabloid’s approach to the news differ to the Guardian- broad
sheets
The Niqab
Debate
Daily Express.
