Northampton, MA – Sut Jhally, executive director of the Media Education Foundation (MEF) and director/producer of MEF’s acclaimed documentary REEL BAD ARABS: HOW HOLLYWOOD VILIFIES A PEOPLE, announced today that 5,000 DVDs of the acclaimed film are available to high school educators, public libraries, and professors of journalism or communication at greatly reduced prices, due to the wonderful generosity of an MEF donor.
With this very substantial support Reel Bad Arabs is now available at the partially subsidized price of $10 for high school educators and public libraries (normally $150) and $50 for college and university departments of journalism & mass communication (otherwise $250). The Media Education Foundation urges educators to use this film as a tool in their classrooms and to take advantage of this first come, first serve offer. Educators must provide their institution’s nine-digit federal tax ID number.
“I believe Reel Bad Arabs has the potential to become an essential component of classroom curricula focused on multiculturalism and ethnic bias,” said Sut Jhally. “Since many U.S. high schools and institutions of higher education often lack funds to purchase audio-visual material, we are both thrilled to offer this critical film at a partially subsidized rate, and profoundly grateful to our donor who has made this possible.”
MEF’s film Reel Bad Arabs, based on the work of Dr. Jack Shaheen, has been earning widespread critical praise since its official selection by the Dubai International Film Festival and the Brisbane International Film Festival. Reel Bad Arabs explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs and offers devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images and why they matter so much today.
The free downloadable study guide to accompany Reel Bad Arabs is available at www.mediaed.org and is designed for use in high school civics and social studies classes, as well as in university journalism and communication classes. Reel Bad Arabs has ignited educators, students, and activists all over the world to pay serious attention to hurtful stereotypes in our media and entertainment. By providing access to this film together with curriculum material for educators, we intend to support our teachers, advance the study of American mass media, and bolster the fight against anti-Arab discrimination,” said Jhally.
Teachers can take advantage of this remarkable offer by calling 1-800-897-0089 or faxing their order to 413-586-8398. High schools, please mention code 2RBA7. Journalism and Communication departments, please mention code 8RBA7.
