In Search of a New Story: Underrepresented Muslim Voices in Mainstream Global Media

Tasveer Festival Symposium Presented by the University of Washington South Asia Center

This symposium explores the misrepresentation of Muslim minorities in mainstream media across the world, whether it be films, TV dramas, or the news.

It looks at their systematic invisiblization (Muslim women’s more than men’s), their simplistic and uni-dimensional portrayal, their racial-profiling and stereotyping as naturally aggressive or as victimized, their inclusion as an add-on, a modicum of diversity, or a checkmark, and their representation as people belonging to far-off, mysterious, and strange cultures. Given this, an examination of this essentialization, demonization, and scapegoating of Muslim people, that make up a quarter of the global population, becomes urgent. Not doing so has terrible consequences: an erasure of Muslim voices, triggering of micro and macro acts of violence against Muslims, alienation of Muslim youth, and piggybacking on that, Islamophobic leaders coming to power and subsequently using their positions to further advance their bigotry. At a time when most people base their impression of Muslims on their depiction in the media, rather than first-hand knowledge, it is important for us to address the structural challenges behind that misrepresentation. How do we imagine a representation of Muslim identities in the totality of their humanity? Where is that truly representative story built around an expansive idea of how we understand ourselves as individuals and as members of the wider global community? If we don’t do that, then we risk making our youth hostage to the counter-narratives imagined by extremist fringe forces. As Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed claims, the stakes are high because “the Islamophobia industry is one that measures its cost in blood.”

Panelists

Radhika Govindrajan, an Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies at the University of Washington moderates this symposium on the misrepresentation of Muslim minorities in mainstream media across the world, whether it be films, TV dramas, or the news.

Ayesha Chaudhry is the Canada Research Chair in Religion, Law and Social Justice and Associate Professor of Islamic studies and Gender studies at the University of British Columbia and the author of "The Colour of God."

Hussain Haidry is a poet, lyricist, and screenwriter. he has co-written the web series, "Laakhon Mein Ek" (Season Two), and a short film, titled Madhyaantar.

Iman Zawahry is one of the first hijabi American-Muslim filmmakers in the nation. She wrote and directed her award-winning debut feature film, the TSAFF closing night film, Americanish with a majority female crew.

Farah Bashir was born and raised in Kashmir. A former photojournalist with Reuters, she works as a communication consultant. "Rumours Of Spring - A Girlhood in Kashmir" is her first book. 

Aizzah Fatima writes the often untold and remarkable stories of immigrants, women, and people of color. She is the recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art grant with Brooklyn Children's Theatre, and has written the book for the musical The Ten Year Test which is the first children’s musical to feature Muslim protagonists in the US. She co-produced the horror feature film titled Horror Time which is executive produced by James Franco. Her TV pilot Muslim Girls DTF: Discuss Their Faith is the winner of the 2020 Roddenberry Impact Award, and the winner of the 2020 Yes, And...Laughter Lab with Comedy Central and 3Arts. She is a MFA graduate of Emerson College in Film & TV Writing.

Kashif Shaikh is the Co-Founder and President of Pillars Fund. Under his leadership, Pillars has invested more than $6 million in grants to create opportunities for Muslims in the United States to tell their own stories, build community, and fight injustice through the media, arts, public discourse, and civil society. Prior to launching Pillars, Kashif was a program officer at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, where he helped manage a portfolio of more than $20 million and helped scale a variety of Chicago nonprofits working at the intersection of racial justice, poverty, and education. Kashif’s expert insight has been featured in The New York Times, Buzzfeed, Variety, and NPR, among others. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Peabody Awards, Chicago Humanities Festival, and Mortar, a Cincinnati nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs from historically marginalized communities access resources to start and run successful businesses.