US AGAINST THEM

Samah Asfour

US against Them

                                The myth that surrounds the terrorist is emphasized by the media. The typical image can be described by a multitude of traits that concern social identity.   The terrorist myth evokes fear in the lives of the American people every day, it constitutes evil and the idea of bring the American people together as one to fight against them. The description of the terrorist in one that is specific yet very vague at the same time. Many behaviors and mannerism define a terrorist as described by former President Bush in his speech after 9/11 and his vice president Dick Cheney. These two men have helped create the image of the terrorist and as we can see in the American rhetoric they have helped instill that image in the minds of Americans and people all over the world.

Islam is the initial factor that people associate with terrorists. Religion plays an important part in describing a terrorist. President Bush had explained that these terrorists practice an “extreme and fringe” form of Islam also trying to “hijack Islam itself. He had also stated that these Muslims are anti-Christian and Jews, thus creating a rift between the three religions. People believe that these terrorists are acting in this way in the name of Islam, which is a contradiction of this peaceful religion. These terrorists are, during the Cold War era after World War two.  Also a group of individuals that see Osama Bin Laden as a hero and the American population very much knows that that man is a monster, even though many Americans are unaware that the U.S, in the past, was the one that gave Bin Laden is power and helped instill the idea of killing the enemy in him. At that time the enemy was the Soviet Union Gender and race are also associated with terrorists in this myth because it creates the idea that they are Middle Eastern men.

The notion of uncertainty is also a predominate factor in this myth. Even though we are lead to believe that this myth clearly explains that the terrorist are a part of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda we are still at a disadvantage because we don’t really know where Al-Qaeda is or where they operate and who is a part of them. This unknowing is very coincidental, it solidifies that fact that this is only a myth and not a true fact.

In his interview with Tim Russet, Dick Cheney undoubtedly labels the terrorists as barbarians. The word barbarian dehumanizes the terrorists, making them less than human, and allowing us to bring them justice for what they have done on 9/11. The term is very controversial; it allows Americans to produce a distinction between us and them.  

The myth of the Middle Eastern, Islamic terrorist men is one that has allowed fear and hatred to enter America in a very radical way, creating a difference between our preferred social identities over theirs. Similarly compared to the Communist fear in the late 950s and 1960s, this myth will always have unanswered questions in the minds of Americans.

The Beauty Myth in current pop culture

The Beauty Myth in current pop culture

 Akon’s music video “Beautiful” featuring Colby O’Donis and Kardinal Offishal produces a version of the beauty myth that exemplifies the idea of men wanting to possess women who embody beauty. In the video we see four ethnic women who retain beauty; these women represent the idea of how a beautiful woman should appear. Masculine dominance and beautiful femininity are bound up with this version of the beauty stereotype.  The three men in the video use the power of lyrics to emphasize the fact that they believe the women around them are define their ideas of beautiful.

            This artifact constructs certain beauty myth because we see the guys trying to catch the attention of the women because the women caught their attention first. The idea that men desire to own women who embody beauty can clearly be seen. Factors such as hair, dress, eyes, skin and body type all make the women look feminine and pretty and the men can see that in the women around them. Wolf explains that in one beauty myth “strong men battle for beautiful women…women’s beauty must correlate to their fertility” (488). This valid argument hold truth in the lyrics of the song because in one line Akon says “Cause you’re independent and you’ve got my attention. Can I be you’re baby father” this line undoubtedly illustrates the beauty myth that was talked about in the short reading. He wants to have a baby with her. Reproduction is natural aspect for humans and the concept of wanting to reproduce with someone who possesses beauty is a part of sexual selection based on a heterosexual relationship.

            Facets of social identity such as gender can be seen in the heterosexual relationship being suggested. The males want to dominate the women in the in the sense that they want to own them because they are considered beautiful. Also the women are seen as passive because they don’t say anything in the music video, all the do is move around the men and flaunt their beauty. This suggests that the women comprehend the idea that they need to gain the affection of the men, in ordered to fully satisfy society’s idea of heterosexual selection.

In the artifact many behaviors by the women are represented as beautiful. The women are considered beautiful because the men believe they embody beauty. Other lines such as “when I see you, I run out of words to say, I wouldn’t leave you cuz you’re that type of girl to make me stay…you’re so beautiful, you’re so damn beautiful” insinuate that these men desire to be with these women because the men understand their beauty. And being masculine emphasizes their other desire to possess the pretty women.  The women’s’ body shapes are also taken into account as a major factor because the line “hourglass make a place go woo, waist line make soldier salute constitutes the idea of physical attraction; which thus becomes the main reason beauty is a relevant factor in our society.  

The “Beautiful” music video embodies the idea of the beauty myth and how masculine men and feminine women should act when they desire to obtain a heterosexual relationship. We see the men trying to embody women who embody beauty, and women in return desire to have beauty because it makes the attractive to men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOzN0eihsE