Islam and Pop Culture in North America
Islam and Pop Culture in North America
- Sophia Rose ArjanaSophia Rose ArjanaDepartment of History, Western Kentucky University
Summary
Islam and popular culture constitute an area of scholarship that explores how Muslims are represented in popular culture. Historically, in the European and North American contexts, products attached to Islam and Muslims have often reflected Orientalist and Islamophobic themes. The study of these items has often focused on negative imagery and pejorative themes attached to Islam and Muslims. In the 21st century, scholars have shifted their attention to more nuanced portrayals of Islam, including those produced by Muslim writers, artists, and musicians engaged with forms of popular culture, such as music, literature, television, and film, through their own creative expressions. In North America, Islamic popular culture features a rich mosaic of music, art, literature, and other forms of expression that challenge the negative portrayals associated with Orientalist and Islamophobic discourse.
Subjects
- Islamic Studies
