Syriana (Gaghan 2005)

Controlling idea for Syriana» Tagline “Everything is Connected” important» Even though the film does show terrorism as the

result of Muslim terrorists, it doesn’t reaffirm simple stereotypes. Rather, the film attempts to illustrate how terrorism is a result of interconnected economic, political, and religious contexts on a global level.

Prince Nasir Al-Subaai fits no stereotype

Prince Nasir complex: he wears both modern Western dress AND traditional Arab dress accordingly

Prince Nasir, continued

“I studied at Oxford. I have a PhD from Georgetown. I want to create a parliament. I want to give women the right to vote. I want an independent judiciary…I’ll put all of our energy up for competitive bidding…anything that achieves efficiency and maximizes profits for my people, profits which I’ll then use to rebuild my country.”

THE QUOTATION:

“I studied at Oxford. I have a PhD from Georgetown. I want to create a parliament. I want to give women the right to vote. I want an independent judiciary… I’ll put all of our energy up for competitive bidding…anything that achieves efficiency and maximizes profits for my people, profits which I’ll then use to rebuild my country.”

Prince Nasir wants…

» Political freedom for his people

» Egalitarianism (belief in the equality of all people)

» Competition on the free markets

In other words, this man fits no stereotype!

Prince Nasir, continued

Film’s conclusion stresses interconnectivity

…what happens in Washington, DC…

…affects political events in foreign countries…

…which are tied into transnational corporations.

Religion, politics, and economics thus all play a role in this…

…violent terrorism, in the name of Islam but influenced by a confusing global web. No single issue is the

cause.

Use of violence for political gain isn’t only “Muslim”

» Has the audience question America’s actions, its use of violence, and how this might influence foreign events

» To understand the world, we need to understand the world

The film thus challenges stereotypes…» Characters aren’t simplistic» Terrorism is the cause of a complicated mix of

religious, economic, and political events» Violence isn’t seen as something uniquely “Middle

Eastern,” “Muslim,” or “Arab” – other powers use violence too