Week 12- Orientalism and Occidentalism Now

The film Al-irhab wal kabab or "terrorism and bbq" provides a inside view of how people Egypt view terrorism. This film is a comedy which is great at exaggerating stereotypes that people have amongst themselves. The protagonist is named Ahmed and is postrayed as a hard working man who is trying to keep his family in the middle class. It was funny to watch stereotypes such as the typical unpleasable loud wife who happens to be under a "dozen" comforters being included in this film. The great struggle in govenrment buildings is also included in this film when
Ahmed is forced to take a day off in order to arrange with school officials for his children attend a school nearer his home. Once in the building it is so crowded that he misses the office he needs a couple of times until he reaches it. Once he does, the person in charge is not in. Instead a man praying at all hours of day is there along with a very loud secretary. Since he is not able to get it done he takes off another day from work. When he is not able to get help again he starts a simple argument that places him as a terrorist without him realizing it. Eventually he walks out along with the captives due to the relationship he had developed with them. I found it very interesting how the women are portrayed in this film. The western world view of women as inferior and oppressed is clearly challenged in this film. Starting with Ahmed's wife who is a strong standing character the view of women is shown differently. Women put fear in men and are very effective in getting their way as it was seen in the woman who's boy went in the building. This film was very funny and a kind of film that gives us an idea of how the "other" sees themselves.