Most of us have probably seen the trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen’s new movie, “The Dictator.”
Coupled with Cohen’s antics in interviews and on the red carpet, his latest movie is getting its fair amount of press. Recently he went so far as to irreverently spill the “ashes” of deceased North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on Ryan Seacrest at the Academy Awards.
I’ve never been a fan of Cohen’s work, and I’m predicting that his latest movie won’t win me over. In the first few seconds of the trailer Cohen openly exploits exaggerated Arabic stereotypes.
Through these caricatures, Cohen shows a complete disregard and inherent disrespect for the Arabic culture.
I don’t believe that different cultures should be off-limits from humor; however, there’s a thin line between socially acceptable comedy and flagrant racism.
Political comedian Dean Obeidallah, in a column for CNN.com, equated Cohen’s dictator costume to white actors donning blackface in the late 19th century. Blackface was used in minstrel shows as caricatures of African-Americans.
Today, it is openly acknowledged that blackface is blatantly racist. Shouldn’t Cohen’s costume, which does the same for Arabs that blackface did for African-Americans, be held in the same regard?
Obeidallah also writes that there are no actors or writers of Arab descent involved in the movie. Ben Kingsley, who co-stars, is of Indian descent and is the only person remotely from the region.
The movie would have fared better if it included Arabic writers or actors. Their input would have rendered funnier jokes and representations grounded in reality.
The lack of care in assembling the cast and crew shows Cohen’s disregard of the Arabic culture. He would rather garner cheap laughs than produce a movie with an ounce of authenticity.
Cohen’s depiction of negative Arabic stereotypes is not only racist but also reinforces a deeper political undertone. Recently, the United States was responsible for the removal of several Arabic dictators — the latest was Muammar Gaddafi.
It also appears that the U.S. has its sights set on Iran and Syria. Our current political environment makes it impossible for this movie to be “silly fun.”
Cohen’s main character, Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen, continues to demonize deceased foreign leaders and prolongs the thirst for war. This movie promotes a deep dislike of Arabic culture through false stereotypes and could further propagate conflict.
Citizens of the U.S. will never quench their thirst for foreign wars if they keep being fed stale, dry and racist jokes.
A prominent figure like Cohen and his “comedy” only add fuel to the burning fire. Due to his position in the public eye, his words and actions are bound to influence the minds of the ignorant.
These opinions formed on false stereotypes and extravagant depictions will in turn instigate the need for incessant violence. You will end up with people eating lunch next to you, reading the same textbooks and craving the end of a whole culture.
Michela Martinazzi is an art history junior at UF. Her column regularly appears on Tuesdays. You can contact her at opinions@alligator.org.
