Schlesinger, P.
(1993). Islam, postmodernity and the media: an interview with Akbar S. Ahmed. Media, Culture & Society, 15(1),
29-42. doi 10.1177/016344393015001003
Philip Schlesinger wrote this article while working in the
Department of Film and Media Studies at University of Stirling, Scotland. He conducts an interview with Pakistani
anthropologist Akbar S. Ahmed.
Schlesinger is interested in Ahmed’s research into the media and
postermodernity when it comes to Western perceptions of Muslims and vice
versa. Ahmed argues that the media and
globalisation are making it impossible for groups in society to isolate
themselves and live a traditional lifestyle.
Ahmed relates this to an East-West division that is built on thousands
of years of history and social relations.
Schlesinger probes the argument put forward in Ahmed’s research about
film and television media and their role in postmodernity in the Muslim
world. Ahmed essentially argues that
postmodernity is culturally contextual, for Muslims it has to do with the
changing world order after the Cold War.
He stresses that the global aspect of Western media is intruding on
traditional values and providing Muslims with misleading images of Western
society and causing tension. Ahmed
suggests that reconciliation between Western and Muslim cultures needs to be
based on respect, cooperation and celebration of differences. Schlesinger conducts the interview with
respect to Ahmed’s views but does attempt to highlight his cultural bias and
prejudices.
Barns, G. (2010, May
7). Cory Bernardi’s sinister plot to ban the burqa. Crikey. Retrieved from: http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/07/corey-bernardis-sinister-plot-to-ban-the-burqa/
Greg Barns has written something close to an editorial but
with a heavy analysis of social and political commentary and Australian
law. Barns assesses the comments by
South Australian Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi who made a claim that the burqa
should be banned in Australia. Senator
Bernardi made this claim after an incident in Sydney when a thief used a burqa
as a disguise. Senator Bernardi links the
wearing of the burqa to repression of women by Muslim society as well as
criminality in Western society. Barns
writes that Senator Bernardi’s call for banning the burqa is more ‘sinister’
than claims from other countries. He
makes this assertion within the framework of racial vilification laws in
Australia. While these laws vary from
state to state, Barns reviews each state and claims that Bernardi is in breach
of racial vilification laws in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria. Barns claims that Senator Bernardi cannot
defend himself against these laws by arguing that his comments were in good
faith, as linking the burqa to oppression and criminality are deemed
irrational. Barns accuses Senator
Bernardi of breaching these laws as he has incited ‘serious contempt’ for
Australian Muslims. This piece comes
across as opinionated as Barns claims that Senator Bernardi’s comments are the
most sinister ever made on the topic.
This statement is put forward before the legal and social justificatory
framework. This piece highlights that
there is not a celebration of differences between Muslims and Australians.
French face veil ban
comes into force (2011, April 11). Al
Jazeera. Retrieved from: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/04/20114117646677858.html
This article was written after the French government
implemented controversial laws that banned citizens from wearing face veils in
public. The writer highlights the
immediate civil disobedience campaign against these laws by stating that two
women, wearing niqab veils, were arrested.
However, according to French authorities, they were arrested for
participating in an unauthorised demonstration.
The article includes comments from a variety of sources. The French government said that the ban is
due to male oppression of women. Muslim
leaders in France state that they are neither for or against the banning of
face veils, as wearing these garments is a cultural, rather than religious
practice. Protestors claim that the ban
is against their European and human rights.
The author analyses the reasoning behind the French government’s
decision to ban face veils. According to
official rhetoric, it is to promote France’s secular values and educate the
people about the responsibilities of French citizenship. However, some human rights groups argue that
it was a move by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy to win votes from
far-right voters. Al Jazeera is known
for delivering news from a non-Western perspective and relies heavily on
non-governmental sources in this piece, although it still does provide a
balanced argument. This piece highlights
that there is not much respect between Western and Muslim culture and that
differences are not being celebrated.
Human rights chief
slams burqa ban. (2010, March 8). SBS
World News Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1209342/Human-rights-chief-slams-burqa-ban
This article discusses international and customary law
regarding several countries’ attempts to ban the wearing of burqas. This article consults human rights
commissioner for the Council of Europe, Thomsas Hammarberg, to discuss the
social, legal and normative dimensions and implications of banning the burqa in
European society. According to
Hammarberg, banning face veils would be an ‘unreasonable’ invasion of personal
privacy and would not liberate oppressed women.
He argues that banning the burqa and other face veils would in fact do
the opposite of what the supporters are trying to promote, it would actually
lead to further alienation and segregation of society. Hammarberg not only relies on this social and
normative argument, but also on the basis of international and European
law. He states that banning the burqa
would be against the European Convention of Human Rights depending on the
context of the banning laws. Hammarberg
then analyses the situation in France where he denounces their approach and
calls it undemocratic considering the circumstances. SBS is known for presenting a multicultural
view on current affairs and has often been criticised for having a left-wing
bias. This article calls for respect and
cooperation between Western and Muslim cultures and to celebrate the
differences.
