Politics and media are intertwined each other since the 1930s. Empirical evidences show that media in the form of films has put enormous impact on the social psyche. In this regards, this essay is going to discuss a particular film named ‘The Dictator’. The film was released in 2012 and directed by Larry Charles who became popularised after making films like Borat and Bruno. All these films are identified as mockumentaries in a sense that they are projecting sort of documentary with a sense of mockery. The protagonist of the film was Aladeen, redirects its link to the famous folk tale of the Middle East and portraying the image of the dictatorial regime in that region. Among the critics the film earned mixed reaction where some magazines appreciate the comical sense of the movie but criticized The Dictator for its provocative, vulgar and scatological elements. Hence, the purpose of this essay is to perceive an idea of the making the film. In this regards, the underpinnings of racism and bigotry also generated a sense of anti-Islamic sentiment which encompasses the theme of the movie. Based on this these understanding, the discussion is ought to put emphasis on different approaches of political satire and the motives of black comedy in film. The essay further set up a link between the idea of political satire black comedy and the film The Dictator.
The Dictator is belonged to the political satire genre and has a pulp of black comedy. The film is considered to be a great hit among the American viewers and became popular because it’s funny dialogue. Mockery and derogatory lines were everywhere in the film which connoted the dictatorial regime of the world especially in the Middle East. The post modern dictators like Kim Jong-Il, Idi Amin, and Gaddafi all were depicted in the film as a single character, named Admiral General Aladeen. The film covered a story of a fictional Republic of Wadiya which was located presumably in the Middle East.
The story starts with General Aladeen was busying having an intercourse with a popular American celebrity. It clearly projected the sexist mentality of the dictators of Middle East. At the same time, the movie was going to expose the tyrannical, anti-western and anti-Semitic mentality of the ruler. War monger and lack of idea about the notion of democracy, the protagonist of the film, Aladeen was seen to possess the dominating mentality of a dictator. It was obvious and stereotypes about the Middle East that had been shown in the film ‘The Dictator’. A perverted childlike buffoon Aladeen was going to initiate a covert nuclear weapons program with an immense hatred against the Western Countries.
Soon after arriving New York, Aladeen was abducted by a hitman. The plot was staged by his uncle actually who was treid to ascend the throne of Wadiya by killing his nephew Aladeen. After that the introduction of a political imposter in the scene was quite significant. It can be argued that in their personal security personnel the dictators chose a political decoy. The prolong struggle for succession was portrayed in the film which was a fundamental practice existed in the Middle East historically. Conspiracies and political assassination was very popular in the Middle East countries since ancient times.
However, the film took a dynamic turn after Aladeen escaped from abduction. He met a girl named Zoey. The film was preceded by showing a relationship between Aladeed and Zoey. However, the chauvinistic approach was there in the relationship between them. Aladeen created some rules and restrictions for Zoey who was just the opposite of Aladeen. She was more liberal and independent in thought. Moreover, the girl was a human rights activist and believed in social progress and alternative lifestyle. Aladeen started imposing personality cult around Zoey which was not accepted by her. In the mean time, Aladeen met with his former head of nuclear program Nadal whom he had ordered to execute earlier. In fact, the ‘little Wadiya’ district in United States was seen to be filled with people who had been ordered to execute by Aladeen.
The conspiracy and plot politics again centred round the film when Aladeen made an agreement with Nadal to oust his uncle from the throne of Wadiya. At the end of the story, Aladeen confessed his love for Zoey and resolute to become a liberal dictator who would make an amicable relation with US and opened up Wadiya’s oil fields for global business. In fact, he was going to change his title from Admiral- General to President-Prime Minister in order to add up a sense of democracy in Wadiya. Meanwhile, Tamir, the uncle of Aladeen tried to assassinate him but the imposter jumped in front of him to save Aladeen. Tamir was arrested. In addition to this, the last scene was very symbolic where Zoey revealed herself as pregnant with the couple’s first child and suddenly Aladeen responded to have a boy or abortion.
In this regards, the film depicted some cliché characteristics of Middle East. It can be argued that the movie was clearly a pro- American as well as a pro- Christian movie which delivers a strong hostility against the customs and tradition of the Middle East. Through various scenes and plots the movie was trying to project war-torn and instable political atmosphere of the Islamic Countries. It is also based on tyranny and exploitation by which the region is succumbed into extinction. Inequality, disparity, disintegration are the facts that the common people of Middle East are associated with in their daily life. In fact, lack of cultural ingenuity and dearth of education are surrounded the place and people are going to seek asylum in Western countries for having a better life style.
It can be argued that movies resemble a huge contribution in changing the societies. In fact, films are considered to be a determinant factor in order to convince or manipulate the viewers by providing facts with a dramatic angle. Therefore, there is ample of chances where people are possibly moved by the distorted version showing in the film. However, movies also perceive a great deal of mass eruption in the world stage. In this context, Hollywood movies are seemed to be played a significant role in creating mass responses. The reason behind this importance of Hollywood movies is resulted by their market occupation and global business facilities. Henceforth, Hollywood movies have a great deal of importance in mobilising popular response about a particular theme or event.
In this context, the movie, The Dictator carries away some positive stereotypes regarding viewers’ responses. The first stereotypes in this respect are linked with the satire and black comedy genre. It is always been seen that satire or black comedies are prone to controversies and painful with a mould of rhetoric and metaphor. Therefore, it is obvious for film, The Dictator to follow the same rule of political satire. Besides this, there is always a pulp of mimicry and mockery in the political satire which is truly reflected in the film.
In this regards, the second stereotype is related to the comical pulp of the movie. Comedy in a metaphorical sense is free to show anything. Hence, the movie The Dictator followed the same line and projecting the taboo of Middle East in a comical manner. In fact, it is true that the Middle East countries have possessed some kind of medieval mentalities which cannot be undermined by criticising The Dictator. The film truly portrays a true political condition of the Islamic countries and reflects the nature of the dictatorial regimes in creating despotism and tyranny across the country.
Despite of these positive stereotypes the film has been criticised in a rigorous approach by getting the allegation of hurting the Arab sentiments intensely. It articulates that the society and cultural is projected in such a typical manner which is closely related to the hostile relationship between Christianity and Islam.
Firstly, the movie tells a story of dictators and incorporating number racist elements in the content which are not to be appreciated. For an instance, dressing up like a general with a long beard is just a typical portrayal of the Islamic people. However, beard is not identical to the Muslim community; it is just a person’s wish. In addition to this, the film also depicted the Muslims as terrorists, dictators, sheikhs, Oil tycoons or Bedouins. This is a sheer act of racism that casted upon the people of Middle East.
Besides this, the sexist allegation against the Arab people is also shameful and considered to be a humiliation of their personal life. It is true that the Law of Sharia prescribes some restrictions upon the followers of Islam but interpreting it as sexiest or racist should not be appreciated. There are also taboos and prejudices in the Western countries as well which are similarly put an adverse impact in human life. Moreover, projecting the Middle East as a desert with monotony is also barbaric and belligerent to civilization.
The religious underpinnings are also taken a part in the film which reflects the Jewish perception about Middle East Countries. The writer and the producer of the film Sacha Baron Cohen is belonged to the Jewish community and perceives enough hatred against the Islamic people. Therefore, it is evident for him to express nefarious comments against the Arabs. In fact, Nadia Tonova, the director of the National Network for Arab American Communities aptly objected the obnoxious activity of Cohen in the Red Carpet of Oscar nights when he dressed up in the dress of a general as the film. It was also argued that the writer deliberately chose Arabs in particular to damage their image in the global platform.
The film in various way was trying to depict a foul society based on the immoral principles and related it to the situation of Arab countries. It is always a trend of the western society to project the East as lack of cultural diversity. The film actors also dressed up in such similar way to create a sense that there is an absence of cultural richness in the Arab region and the society is filled with lunatics and bigot persons who possess a hostile mentality against liberal approach. However, this is not true at all. The cultural richness of the Middle East countries has a connection with the ancient civilisation of Persia and Mesopotamia. The use of canon in war or using candle, all these things are came up with the flourishing trend of Arab civilisation. The long drawn battle between West and the Arab world was based on showing off the supremacy on the world. It is in fact a western discourse to damage the image of the Arab world in front of the world.
Nevertheless, the acting was flawless and created a mass appreciation around the world. It is true that the movie conceives elements of racism and bigotry but it cannot curb down the dramatic creativity of the actors. Famous film critic Stuart Klawans while reviewing the film The Dictator remarked that Baron Cohen played the role with same enthusiasm as Charlie Chaplin did in the movie The Great Dictator. As a matter of fact, The Great Dictator was projected the political satire related to the nefarious activities of Hitler where as in the same way Cohen performed the role of dictators of post modernity. There is also some funny and comical pulp in the movie which reduces the intensity of the topic by shaping it in a form of allegory.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the movie is truly full of comedy with lots of happening and mockery on the leading dictators of the world. The Dictator also reflects some kind of racial pulp which cannot be overlooked. As a result of that the film affects the cultural image of the Arab world and earned number of controversies around the world. It has to be kept in mind that act of provocation and misinformation can lead to political instability and ushered violence which should not be appreciated.
References
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Child, B. (2012). Sacha Baron Cohen criticised over ‘negative stereotypes’ of Arabs. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/may/17/sacha-baron-cohen-dictator-sterotype [Accessed 14 May 2018].
CNN. “Sacha Cohen’s Movie A Minstrel Show.” 2012. Web. 14 May 2018.
Cruz, Jasmine Agnes. “The End of National Cinema: Interesting Discussions and Unfulfilled Promises.” Kritika Kultura 28 (2017): 310-313.
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Lee, Eun-Kyoung Othelia, and Mary Ann Priester. “Who is the help? Use of film to explore diversity.” Affilia 29.1 (2014): 92-104.
Lyden, John C. “To commend or to critique? The question of religion and film studies.” Journal of Religion & Film 1.2 (2016): 6.
Mäder, Marie-Therese. “Film Review: IRAQI ODYSSEY (Samir, IQ 2014).” Journal for Religion, Film and Media (JRFM) 2.2 (2017): 149-154.
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