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On December 3, The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles played host for the official launch of MOST (Muslims on Screen & Television): A Cross Cultural Resource Center. Based near Hollywood, Calif., MOST aims to provide America's creative community with resources and information on Muslims and regions with majority Muslim populations. Additionally, MOST intends to engage thought leaders and the entertainment community in an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between the US and Muslim communities around the world.
MOST's timely launch coincides with the high interest surrounding President-elect Barack Obama's emerging foreign policy team and the increasing focus being put on answering how the entertainment industry fits into the equation of changing America’s image abroad and the country's transition from a reliance on military might to that of soft power.
The New York Times reported on Dec. 1 that American entertainment executives are working to broaden the appeal of their cultural output internationally and in the process are paving new ground in altering America's image abroad. The article also pointed out that international relations experts think this is a significant development and an important part of the push to more accurately portray the US to audiences around the world, especially those in Muslim-majority countries that may see a more narrow picture of America on their screens; one that is militarily forceful and socially decadent.
Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media, spoke to the timeliness of this launch in light of the recent attacks in Mumbai, India. "The terrorist attacks in Mumbai make the work of MOST all the more important as the global news media attempts to fairly and accurately document and report the tragic events. For all media including film and entertainment programming, there is a growing need to recognize the potential to shape perceptions and misperceptions, which can fuel religious and ethnic divisions. An organized effort like MOST to address the serious need in the media landscape for broader and more accurate portrayals of Muslims in all societies is more essential than ever."
Moreover, as Muslim themes and characters appear more often in television and film, writers and producers face a complex challenge: presenting multidimensional characters and stories that transcend stereotypes. MOST aims to provide the Hollywood creative community with resources and accurate information on Muslims and regions with majority Muslim populations, and also to engage thought leaders and the entertainment community in an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world.
Howard Gordon, executive producer of the hit TV show "24," underscored the value of MOST. "We need to present American and other Muslims as characters other than terrorists. MOST is a great resource to get writers and content creators to think about incorporating Muslims into storylines in novel ways, and to encourage more Muslims to participate in storytelling in the media."
Cultivated by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, MOST was developed in partnership with Unity Productions Foundation, producers of the PBS-broadcast Mohammad: Legacy of the Prophet and the recent theatrical release Allah Made Me Funny; the philanthropic collaborative One Nation: Liberty and Justice for All, and the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, a world leader in opinion polling and publisher of the recent book: "Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think."
For more information, see www.mostresource.org.
Posted on December 4, 2008
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