Framing of Islamophobia in the Western Press: A Critical Analysis
Keywords:
Content Analysis, Episodic Frames, Thematic Frames, IslamophobiaAbstract
This quantitative content analysis delves into the representation of Islam and Muslims in Western media, uncovering a disturbing prevalence of Islamophobia. The findings reveal a dominant pattern of negative portrayals, largely perpetuating stereotypes and biases. The framing predominantly highlights fundamentalism, with occasional racism and religious discrimination. Furthermore, Western media tends to characterize Muslims and Islam as conservative and restrictive, associating the religion with threats, intolerance, and a war-like disposition. The analysis underscores the widespread use of demonizing language when discussing Muslims, overshadowing positive representations. At times, Muslims are depicted as lacking in culture and sophistication. The Western press often intentionally omits positive aspects of the narrative while emphasizing a global perspective that reinforces a Western-centric viewpoint. This pervasive negative portrayal of Islam and the prevalent Islamophobic undertones in Western media align with Edward Said's concept of 'us versus them.' It illustrates a stark division between the Western and Islamic worlds.
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