Effects of the West

We're all relating to the 'American' shows basically because we, in the Middle East, are not exposed to shows that come from other English speaking regions, such as the UK or Australia or even translated sitcoms from the Central Asia or the Far-East. Taking this into consideration, would the impacts still be the same? Is it the concept of being influenced by the West or is it America's influence that we need to dodge?

I've got relatives of mine who grew up in the Middle East, in numerous countries, but nevertheless in the Middle East. They were both exposed to 'Western' culture when they were younger, and so were the people around them. Bear in mind, that that generation grew up in a war-free world. If we were to compare our generation to theirs, the missing factor would be the ongoing wars in Jerusalem, Baghdad, and previously Kuwait and Iran. What I'm trying to say is that maybe these wars have some sort of effect on our parents, since that would give them a reason to reject the Western culture that we indulge ourselves in today.

american media and our youth

We all can’t deny the significant role played by media in our lives. Among all the types of media, the American media is the strongest and the most successful one. Our youth is often amazed by the American ideas that are portrayed in their movies and sitcoms. Most if not all of us, do strongly believe that media affects people, but they will also believe that they are not ignorant to be affected by the media. So in other words media affects everyone but their selves. From my own experience, I always have thought that no way I will ever be affected by the American media and that my norms and values are rigid. However, when I look back I do admit that I was affected by the American movies or sitcoms. Friend’s episodes for example, changed my perspective of friendship with the opposite sex. Our Arab and Islamic traditions completely discourage the idea of any sort of relationship with the opposite sex out of marriage. So most of us convince ourselves that we won’t cross the friendship boundaries, but in the end of the day it doesn’t work and it will always exceed friendship. Therefore, I do believe strongly that our generation is affected by the American media, and this is the main reason behind the conflicts that our generation is facing as a result of mixing of different cultures, traditions , norms and values.

This is Ahmad Zainal's post:

In my opinion, many American Tv shows have a lot of hidden messages and it sometimes influences people and affects their lifestyles and personal behaviour as well as their attitude towards other people. It is a well known fact that most American movies nowadays are always implying something in favour or against a political action in the world, for example the movie 300 was a conflict of interest and pride of nations, and many have associated that relevance with common conflicts in today's world with Iran and the U.S.A.

As odd as it seems, people make assumptions and relate things from the Amercian media that might not even be relevant. This, in my belief, is because of the bombardment of media messages that we are being shot at. It leads to false beliefs, attitude disorders and even paranoia. But for the media literate person it would be a different story, a media literate viewer would first read the hidden or direct messages, analyze them to their own belief and understanding then project the image of discreet action towards that particualr message.

In conclusion, I think that whether we are bombarded with media messages or not, it eventually depends on how literate the viewer is. Changing attitudes and behaviours are easy to target when the society at large is clueless, and that is what the media producers know as a fact in their society.

Becoming immune to American influence!

I completely agree that American Media has had a great affect on us Arabs. Of course some more than others! Some become obsessed with American culture and end up not being able to tolerate Arab culture and move to the States where they can express this freely without being criticized and called an American ‘wannabe’! Some know where they are from but because they have become so used to American TV find things like, pre-marital relationships normal which wouldn’t have been in the past, before the explosion of media. And lastly there are some young Arabs that are attached to their culture and realize that Americans act in a different way to them.
I believe that we do watch these American shows for entertainment but without us noticing, things that we would have found not culturally acceptable are, as a result of us being exposed to it all the time.
Being exposed to all this media is something gradual, that you develop from being a child. You can’t just turn on the TV one day and say that you want to leave your culture behind and act in a certain way!
I have had some friends that have been so taken over by the media convincing them that America is perfect and so on that they leave their culture and family and peruse a new life in the States. I think this wrong because we can act against our culture in some cases, but you can’t change who you are completely.
He television comedy show FRIENDS definitely changed the way people think about open pre-marital relationships. For example, my friend and I have all grown up watching friends religiously and none of us have a problem with relationships. Actually when we are around some one who does think so, we automatically think of them as different, not us who are the different ones.
I am sure if I had grown up in a place where I was not exposed to so much television I would find many thing that I find perfectly normal not.
Sara Saddig

Becoming immune to American influence!

I completely agree that American Media has had a great affect on us Arabs. Of course some more than others! Some become obsessed with American culture and end up not being able to tolerate Arab culture and move to the States where they can express this freely without being criticized and called an American ‘wannabe’! Some know where they are from but because they have become so used to American TV find things like, pre-marital relationships normal which wouldn’t have been in the past, before the explosion of media. And lastly there are some young Arabs that are attached to their culture and realize that Americans act in a different way to them.
I believe that we do watch these American shows for entertainment but without us noticing, things that we would have found not culturally acceptable are, as a result of us being exposed to it all the time.
Being exposed to all this media is something gradual, that you develop from being a child. You can’t just turn on the TV one day and say that you want to leave your culture behind and act in a certain way!
I have had some friends that have been so taken over by the media convincing them that America is perfect and so on that they leave their culture and family and peruse a new life in the States. I think this wrong because we can act against our culture in some cases, but you can’t change who you are completely.
He television comedy show FRIENDS definitely changed the way people think about open pre-marital relationships. For example, my friend and I have all grown up watching friends religiously and none of us have a problem with relationships. Actually when we are around some one who does think so, we automatically think of them as different, not us who are the different ones.
I am sure if I had grown up in a place where I was not exposed to so much television I would find many thing that I find perfectly normal not.
Sara Saddig