Debunking Myths about Islam, and Muslims

Students:

As I've said in section, we will be learning together when reading and discussing the history of Islam, and attempts to transform it into an invented tradition on behalf of political interests [this would fall into the state, although there may be other examples of the market trying to appropriate Islam as well].

Here's an article in today's' NY Times about one Muslim filmmaker's response to these attempts. Check out the video--he directly takes on the idea of nationalism and the Islamic faith. Also consider how his critique of Hollywood representation of Muslims might expose how the film industry is making Islam compatible with the movie-going market.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/us/08video.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1210263571-ymn9U1ZJR0G+3jKVS2gJMQ