Mona Eltahawy Review of Season 1 of "We Are Lady Parts"

Season 2 is scheduled to be released beginning May 30, 2024scheduled to be released beginning May 30, 2024 on Peacock.

I had earlier recommended Hind Makki's review of Season 1 of the TV show We Are Lady Parts. A month before, Mona Eltahawy published her reasons why the show is outstanding:

To have had a show like We Are Lady Parts while I was in my 20s and fighting off Niqabis on the Metro, the Brigade of Hijabis-Aren’t-Supposed-To-Watch-Wild-At-Heart, and the You’re-Making-Us-Look-Bad so-called friends, would have freed up so much of my cosmic energy, I might have truly taken over the world. -- read more --

We Are Lady Parts season TWO out on May 30! pic.twitter.com/bR6uItbxFS

— We Are Lady Parts (@weareladyparts) May 25, 2024

Hind Makki Reviews Nida Manzoor's "We Are Lady Parts" on PeacockTV

I enjoyed Nida Manzoor's We Are Lady Parts on Peacock TV, but I didn't have the words to explain to readers of this blog why I did. Thankfully, Hind Makki did find the words!

If you mute the electric guitar, most of us will recognize these women from our own lives. But why would you want to lower the volume?

--- read more ---

The songs by @weareladyparts are available in #USA on @Spotify https://t.co/B6TtonUezp

— Ayman Hossam Fadel (@aymanfadel) June 19, 2021

We Are Lady Parts season TWO out on May 30! pic.twitter.com/bR6uItbxFS

— We Are Lady Parts (@weareladyparts) May 25, 2024

In Law & Order: SVU S06E20 "Night," the Violent Muslim Male Relative of the Rape Victim Satisfies His Honor By Assaulting the Assistant District Attorney

Dick Wolf's Law and Order franchise is a serial promoter of Islamophobia and other forms of stereotyping, as I've documented on this blog. One early episode of the original series achieved quantum anti-black racism in a 30 second clip. 

Season 6, Episode 20, entitled "Night," aired in May, 2005. Here's some excerpts from the script. Mildred Contana is the immigrant rights advocate who has been trying to get the police to investigate a series of rapes against undocumented women who are too afraid of deportation to report the crimes.

Documentary: The Problem with Apu by Hari Kondabolu

I've liked Hari Kondabolu since seeing a YouTube clip (profanity warning) of why he doesn't use an accent in his comedy acts. When Roku and HBO Max finally resolved their differences, the first movie I watched was his 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu. The documentary is an excellent walk-through about the importance of representation in popular culture, a topic which I've covered in this blog's entries on TV shows, movies and documentaries. There were several points the movie made which stand out for me.

The writers on The Simpsons never considered the impact the character Apu had on actual people. When Hari was interviewing a former producer who pointed out that the show's portrayal of the evil oligarch Mr. Burns was stereotypical and Hari pointed out that one couldn't compare the positions of oligarchs and convenience store operators in society, the producer said that the only consideration in the writers' room was whether dialog was funny. Hari then points out that the only reason Apu and his accent are funny is because society is racist.

Review: Apple TV's "Hala"

Apple TV's movie Hala was released today. It has it all. White gaze, titillation, a violent father, the unveiling of an oppressed Muslim girl. Spare yourself 90 minutes of face-palming and read our review instead https://t.co/SWziWgxYUf

— Muslim Impossible (@Muslmpossible) December 6, 2019

Hala receives three bloodied swords [out of 5] for its depiction of a violent and controlling Muslim man, for its one dimensionality, and for falsely perceiving itself as complex and nuanced in its portrayal of Muslims. --- read more --

I have not seen the movie.

Law & Order: SVU S20E23 "Assumptions" Was Thoroughly Anti-Muslim

NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20, Episode 23 "Assumptions" poorly handled recent controversies and promoted anti-Muslim stereotypes.

The Walking Dead S8E09 "Honor" Portrayed Two Muslim Religious Texts #TWD

[Spoiler Alert] On AMC's The Walking Dead, in Season 8, Episode 9 "Honor," as Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is burying his son Carl (Chandler Riggs), he repeats the mantra "My mercy prevails over my wrath."


This is a translation of a passage in Sahih al-Bukhari, an important collection of narrations about the deeds and words attributed to the Messenger Muhammad ﷺ:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لما قضى الله الخلق كتب في كتابه فهو عنده فوق العرش إن رحمتي غلبت غضبي

Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger."

Review: Ep 1 & 2 of "Containment" on The CW Network

Updated 2019-May-25. I did watch the first season, and the show never had a second season. It turns out the Syrians weren't responsible for the outbreak. We learn several episodes later that corporate shenanigans were responsible. I don't believe the plot "twist" absolves the show from the criticisms I and others made. #1, the images of panic & disease and flatness of the "Syrian" characters won't leave viewers' subconscious minds, regardless of the story. #2, many viewers won't ever watch the later episodes. #3, many viewers will come away with the conclusion that, "We had a close brush with civilizational-ending bioterrorism because of these migrants. We really ought to just stop them coming to avoid the risk." #4, even when the characters learn that their suspicions about the Syrians was unfounded, they never actually discuss them at all.

Storify by Ayman Hossam Fadel

Sat, May 07 2016 19:33:02

Edit

CW's Containment Will Make You Scared of ... Brown People!

These comments are based on watching the first two episodes of The CW Network series "Containment."

1. You can follow Containment on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
2. Within the first several minutes of the first episode, we learn that an undocumented Syrian had left the hospital with symptoms. I stopped watching and Googled "cw containment syrian illegal alien" to see if anybody besides me found this troubling. That's when I found the xenophobic article below.
3. 

   Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

   Islamophobes use @CWContainment, where infected Syrian illegal immigrant=Patient 0, 2 spread fear of brown ppl  http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=12742 

   Sat, May 07 2016 15:13:06

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4. I should preface the remainder of this by emphasizing that I'm not attacking any of the actors who appear in this series. If I was offered a 10 second non-speaking role in a basic cable drama series as a suicide-vest wearing terrorist Arab playboy with a sombrero riding a donkey made up in blackface with a stack of TVs behind me while eating watermelon, I'd jump at the opportunity. I know it's that bad for non-white actors in Hollywood.
5. I then searched in Twitter to see if anybody else noticed this. Thankfully, several others found the association of a deadly outbreak with an undocumented immigrant troubling.
6. 

   Coolhunter One@CoolhunterOne

   In @CWContainment, a black kid knocks up a white teen; a #Syrian refugee brings a #WalkingDead virus to USA; a #wall protects.. Wow...

   Sat, May 07 2016 19:09:47

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7. 

   Sugaree@sugaree71

   And now illegal Syrian Muslim immigrant brought vial of bio-engineered virus into US. We're not sufficiently xenophobic? Ugh #Containment

   @aymanfadel

   ·

   Thu, Apr 21 2016 18:22:08

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8. 

   Karen@KarenQueLinda

   First 3 mins of Containment.. It takes place in Atlanta and an illegal Syrian immigrant started it. Cancel this shit.

   @aymanfadel

   ·

   Sat, Apr 23 2016 18:16:27

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9. 

   Samantha Holloway@pirategirljack

   It's unfortunate they went with the illegal immigrant vector. He could has been anything. #Containment

   @aymanfadel

   ·

   Wed, Apr 20 2016 01:31:12

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10. 

    Khadijah Ennazer@deejapples

    #Containment wow what a shocker, they made the arab the terrorist. cool.

    @aymanfadel

    ·

    Wed, Apr 20 2016 02:03:47

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11. 

    Khadijah Ennazer@deejapples

    i hope @CWContainment doesn't go the hella racist route and blame everything on the "illegal middle eastern kid" 🙃

    @aymanfadel

    ·

    Wed, Apr 20 2016 01:23:24

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12. I watched the remainder of episode 1, and I thought other aspects of the show promoted anti-Arab sentiments.
13. 

    Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

    When police go to Sayid's house in @CWContainment, the Arabs hoot & howl, just like the irrational savages racists portray. Thanks, @TheCW

    Sat, May 07 2016 15:56:04

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14. 

    Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

    .@CWContainment had option of showing @AtleastLevesque or @Ronny_Mathew in aggressive phase of disease. Brown guy provokes fear much better

    Sat, May 07 2016 18:41:34

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15. Khadijah Ennazer reviewed episode 1 of the show, mentioning her fear that the show would promote hostility towards Arabs and immigrants. One of the show's writers, Julie Plec, promises that the series will not go that route.
16. 

    Khadijah Ennazer@deejapples

    really disappointed with @julieplec at the writing in #Containment ... you had the chance to change perceptions and you did not

    @aymanfadel

    ·

    Wed, Apr 20 2016 02:15:49

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17. 

    julieplec@julieplec

    @deejapples If you keep watching you will see that we make a point of exactly that. I promise.

    @aymanfadel

    ·

    Wed, Apr 20 2016 04:11:06

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18. I do some ranting against Hollywood, this time for how it employs actors to play "ethnic" roles.
19. 

    Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

    Should Hollywood, when plot uses ethnic stereotypes, employ actors of that ethnicity? @Ronny_Mathew @CWContainment  https://twitter.com/aymanfadel/status/728965890121867264 â€¦

    Sat, May 07 2016 15:49:27

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20. I started to watch episode 2.
21. 

    Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

    Ep1, @CWContainment uses @Ronny_Mathew 2 demo zombie phase of disease. Ep2, it uses his autopsy 4 gross special effects. Brown ppl scary

    Sat, May 07 2016 16:45:41

    ReplyRetweetFavorite
22. 

    Ayman Hossam Fadel@aymanfadel

    Ep2 @CWContainment White girl @TheElleRoberts too friendly with Syrian boy, gets sick outside of cordon sanitaire. Dangers of miscegenation

    Sat, May 07 2016 17:20:39

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23. Here's an attempt to evaluate the show from a public health perspective. Sadly, it leaves out the ethnic, xenophobic bias at the center of the plot.
24. 

    Craig Klugman@CraigKlugman

    Watching @CWContainment? Wondering how close it is to an ethical response? Read my blog  http://www.bioethics.net/?p=59003  @bioethics_net _net

    @aymanfadel

    ·

    Tue, May 03 2016 21:39:31

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25. I hope you're not going to react to this by thinking, "It's a TV show. Nobody takes this seriously. Chill."
26. Raed Saleh, head of Syrian Civil Defense, denied entry at U.S. border

    Raed Saleh, head of the Syrian Civilian Defense, a 2,800-strong team of volunteers who aid Syrians affected by shelling and barrel bomb attacks, arrived at Washington's Dulles International Airport on Monday after a 10-hour flight from Istanbul. Saleh was due to receive the 2016 Humanitarian Award from InterAction, a Washington-based alliance of more than 180 international NGOs.

    

    Lucy Westcott
27. 

    CAIR National@CAIRNational

    Syrian Refugee With Valid Medical Visa Denied Entry Into U.S., #CAIR Says Local Muslim leaders are demanding the...  http://fb.me/2IZCAJd8p 

    Thu, May 05 2016 23:53:16

    ReplyRetweetFavorite
28. 

    CAIR National@CAIRNational

    #CAIR-LA: Family Members Make Plea for Amputee Refugee (VIDEO) A double-amputee Syrian refugee was denied entry...  http://fb.me/37X3mOTFC 

    Fri, May 06 2016 16:45:27

    ReplyRetweetFavorite
29. 

    Carolina Peace@carolina_peace

    Anti-refugee bill S.997 comes up for a second subcommittee hearing this Thursday. Voice your opposition....  http://fb.me/50mav6JWZ 

    Wed, May 04 2016 10:41:23

    ReplyRetweetFavorite
30. I've written about ethnic, racial and religious stereotyping in numerous TV shows and movies.
31. Muslim Media Review: TV Shows

    In "Un-American Graffiti," episode S3E16 of Veronica Mars, a brother of a veteran wounded in Iraq vandalizes "Babylonian Gardens," a restaurant run by naturalized US-citizen "Arabs," no nationality mentioned. There are a number of ethnic stereotypes and tropes the episode uses which I hope producers and writers will avoid in the future.

    

    Ayman Fadel
32. Finish this by listening to the Public Enemy classic, "Burn, Hollywood, Burn!".

SAFFIYYA MOHAMMED: ABC's "Quantico" Suffers from Fake Diversity

When I saw the ‘Quantico’ trailer, I knew I was going to hate-watch the show. https://t.co/MglC3GQPo4 by @SaffiyyaM

— Coming of Faith (@ComingofFaith) February 24, 2016

I have not watched the show.

Rim-Sarah Alouane: Islamophobia in "Babylon," S10E05 of X-Files

My last piece“Muslims Are Out There: I wanted to believe, but after 20 years of being a fan…”https://t.co/wYPIWhxbsu pic.twitter.com/kLNPBiRKgA

— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) February 16, 2016

Ask NBC to Hire Iman Zawahry to Direct an Episode of "Master of None"

Hey guys! My friend Lexi Alexander (first female director of a Marvelfilm) helped start a Twitter campaign to have me...
Posted by Iman Zawahry on Thursday, November 12, 2015

Master of None is a Netflix original series.

Check out my interview with Iman from November 30, 2012.

Veronica Mars, Un-American Graffiti: The White Perpetrator is Forgiven

In "Un-American Graffiti," episode S3E16 of Veronica Mars, a brother of a veteran wounded in Iraq vandalizes "Babylonian Gardens," a restaurant run by naturalized US-citizen "Arabs," no nationality mentioned. There are a number of ethnic stereotypes and tropes the episode uses which I hope producers and writers will avoid in the future. But, in the wake of the Charleston massacre, there's a larger issue of the portrayal of non-white victims of white perpetrators' hate crimes.

Meet the Qo'sbys: Halal in the Family by Aasif Mandvi

Comedian Aasif Mandvi has put together Halal in the Family, a series of short videos in the sit-com format about the Qu'osbys addressing various aspects of Muslim-non-Muslim interaction in the United States.
Information about the videos and some of the serious issues underlying them is available on the Halal in the Family website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey with Neil DeGrasse Tyson

I've watched the first 7 episodes of COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I hope you are watching the series as well. Episode 7, The Clean Room, tells the story of Clair Patterson's studies measuring lead to determine the rate of decay of radioactive elements and thus the age of our planet. Along the way, he realized that lead pollution was increasing human exposure to lead, and he advocated for its regulation. Unsurprisingly, the petroleum and chemical industries resisted regulation and supported scientists who argued against Patterson's claims. This reminded me of Merchants of Doubt, a book I reviewed.

Full episodes are still available online.

Law & Order: SVU S14E04 - The Writers Get it Wrong

Michael Muhammad Knight critiqued "Acceptable Loss," an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 2012.

As long as writers treat religious identity as the sole factor that determines every Muslim’s motivations or behavior, or imagine Islam as a source of universal norms, their Muslim characters will never be fully human. Read more ...

Law & Order: SVU - S15E17 - More Anti-Muslim Tropes & Support of Police Misconduct

Most people will remember Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S15E17 Criminal Stories because Alec Baldwin is the guest star. As always in the Law & Order franchise, there is a gruesome crime which forms the background for the episode. In this case, an Indian Muslima named Heba is raped by her brother's corporate bigwig boss and colleague in his office after a charity dinner in which she volunteered. She lies and claims that men shouting anti-Muslim slurs raped her in Central Park. Because of Heba's lies, the case against the perpetrators weakens. Alec Baldwin's character is a reporter, and he publishes a story about the bigwig's father's influence in publicizing Heba's initial lies to the police. Some of the jurors read this story, and the judge declares a mistrial.

Börgen Episode 23 "The Right Shade of Brown" and the Issue of "Integration"

Adam Price surrounded by the cast of his political drama Borgen

I watch Börgen on Link TV. In season 3, the series's protagonist Birgitte Nyborg decides to leave her party, The Moderates, because it agreed to support a law which would allow the government to deport immigrants for minor offenses. In episode 23, "The Right Shade of Brown," the founders of her new party, The New Democrats, are discussing who should represent The New Democrats in a TV forum on immigration. They decide they want an actual immigrant to represent them. The first condition they place is that the immigrant must be a Muslim, not an Inuit from Greenland, since Muslims are the problem in immigration/integration. Then they decide it can't be an Indonesian or an Ugandan, because they don't look "Muslim."

NCIS, another USA national security propaganda show?

My long awaited critique of @NCIS_CBS episode #KillChain here: http://t.co/zasOSssyPq #pakistan #drones #CBS #NCIS #yemen #navy #usa
— Irfan Rydhan (@IrfanRydhan) January 31, 2014

I'm proud that I decided to drop watching USA Network's Covert Affairs. I usually, once I start watching a show, continue to watch it. The worst example of this was that I actually watched all episodes on DVD of Highlander: The Raven, including the special feature where the production team explained how they managed to produce the worst TV show ever.

For this reason, I've never watched NCIS. If I started, I'm worried that I'd be devoting 2 hours a day watching all the episodes I missed.

So I thank Irfan Rydhan for writing a review of a recent episode. I've written other blog posts about TV episodes featuring Muslim characters.

Law & Order S01E20 Perpetuates Anti-Arab Stereotypes

I finished watching Law & Order's first season on DVD. I'm sure somebody's writing Ph.D. dissertations about the cultural messages of Law & Order. I've seen a lot of Law & Order episodes over the years, but I'd never seen any of the episodes from its first season. Compared to the last few seasons, this episode had a lot more content related to what I believe is USA White Supremacy's most dangerous remaining tool, the criminal justice system expressed through the war on drugs. The real-life term Law and Order arose in response to the race riots in US cities in the 1960s. The first season of Dick Wolf's Law & Order has the echoes of the 1970s "urban blight", Central Park 5 New York City prior to the gentrified Manhattan of the last several seasons of Law & Order.

'Homeland,' Obama’s Show by Joseph Massad

I ultimately disagree with it, but Jospeh Massad has a fascinating, scathing attack on the politics of "Homeland" aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio…
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 26, 2012

I've probably watched one half of an episode of this show, but I thought I'd share this article by Joseph Massad, professor at Columbia University, and make sure people follow Glenn Greenwald on Twitter.

Joesph Massad writes articles for Electronic Intifada and al-Jazeera. His latest book is Desiring Arabs.
P.S.

You may not agree w/all, but @theoliverstone's Showtime series on US history is provocative & worthwhile: begins 11/12 sho.com/sho/oliver-sto…
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 26, 2012

P.P.S. Do Obama and Romney Live in Homeland? by Andrew O'Hehir