'WHAM! BAM! ISLAM!' documentary on 'The 99' to air Oct 13th on PBS
Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, creator of the popular Middle Eastern comic series 'The 99', talks about his beloved creation in 'WHAM! BAM! ISLAM!', a documentary film by independent documentary producer and editor Issac Solotaroff.
The Facebook page for the documentary is here. With it is video clips of the documentary
http://www.facebook.com/WhamBamIslam
As an addition; if you 'Like' the page, you will get a personal message from Issac, plus a free copy of 'The 99
The animated series has, to NO surprise, face both resistance and criticism. As quoted in this recent article by 'The Washington Post':
'His television series is based on a comic-book series that he created in which heroes discover magic stones that give them superhuman powers. The heroes represent Islam’s 99 attributes of Allah, and they use their abilities to battle evil.
Mutawa said his attempt to create a comic based on Islam was controversial in the Middle East, because of a political and religious environment that views pop-culture treatments of faith with deep suspicion.
“I knew there’d be resistance in my region and slowly built the confidence as people saw and understood what I created,” he said. “I guess it helped prepare me for the resistance I’d find in the States.”
Mutawa has come under fire from conservative bloggers. Pamela Geller, an outspoken critic of Islam, has argued that “THE 99” is “garbage” and “proselytizing.” (Descriptions and video clips of “THE 99” can be seen on its Web site.)'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/naif-al-mutawa-fights-to-bring-the-99-and-its-message-to-wide-us-audience/2011/10/07/gIQAmZdqdL_story.html
Let's ignore the fact that 'dear Pamela' has likely never even read the comic.
Let's focus on the fact that, despite doing everything in his power to make it easier for western audiences to have a greater understanding of Islam by creating a comic series based on Islamic principles and placing it in a super hero setting, people are still resisting Dr. Al-Mutawa's attempts at bringing his series to a wider market.
But why?
I'm of the personal opinion that more people would be happy to see a Muslim such as the good doctor, actively confronting the extremism of his faith that is so heavily promoted through the media, with such a means as simple and clear as a comic book, with it's goal to give young Middle Eastern people far better role models than suicide bombers. A 'New York Times' article discusses;
'The Solotaroff documentary shows scenes of how Dr. Al-Mutawa, pitching the concept to investors, strengthened his case by talking about a sticker book created by an Arab businessman showing bloody scenes of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and of suicide bombers extolling the virtues of martyrdom. This sticker book, called an “Intifada Album,” was selling to thousands of children in the West Bank.
At the end of one scene, Dr. Al-Mutawa says: “My message was very clear to investors: Muslim children need new heroes.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-ISLAMIC-COMICS.html?_r=2
Isn't that what people wanted? To confront the extremism? To combat the hatred and fanaticism that appears to be so prevalent in the Muslim world? What better way to reach young minds than with a comic book that extols such positive virtues like kindness, compassion and patience?
Or are those opposing the animated series and the comic book just taking the typical 'easy route'?
I recognize this is late, but I hope people will tune into the documentary. It airs on 'Independent Lens' on Oct. 13th. Hope you all set your recorders, DVRs, whatever.
EDIT: List of air dates added.
New York(WNET) Sun 11 PM
Los Angeles(KOCE) Sunday 11PM
Chicago (WTTW) Thursday 10PM
Philadelphia (WHYY) Thursday 10PM
Dallas(KERA) Thursday 10PM
San Francisco (KQED) Thursday 10PM
Boston (WGBH) Thursday 10PM
Atlanta (WPBA) Sunday 10PM
Seattle (KCTS) Thursday 10PM
Phoenix (KAET) Wed 10/19 10PM
Minneapolis (KWCM) Thurs 10 PM
Check here for other local listings: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/broadcast.html Find your area and tune in.
Also edited: you get a message from Issac, the film maker. My bad.
Let's support Mutawa's efforts to bring 'The 99' to the masses!
The Facebook page for the documentary is here. With it is video clips of the documentary
http://www.facebook.com/WhamBamIslam
As an addition; if you 'Like' the page, you will get a personal message from Issac, plus a free copy of 'The 99
The animated series has, to NO surprise, face both resistance and criticism. As quoted in this recent article by 'The Washington Post':
'His television series is based on a comic-book series that he created in which heroes discover magic stones that give them superhuman powers. The heroes represent Islam’s 99 attributes of Allah, and they use their abilities to battle evil.
Mutawa said his attempt to create a comic based on Islam was controversial in the Middle East, because of a political and religious environment that views pop-culture treatments of faith with deep suspicion.
“I knew there’d be resistance in my region and slowly built the confidence as people saw and understood what I created,” he said. “I guess it helped prepare me for the resistance I’d find in the States.”
Mutawa has come under fire from conservative bloggers. Pamela Geller, an outspoken critic of Islam, has argued that “THE 99” is “garbage” and “proselytizing.” (Descriptions and video clips of “THE 99” can be seen on its Web site.)'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/naif-al-mutawa-fights-to-bring-the-99-and-its-message-to-wide-us-audience/2011/10/07/gIQAmZdqdL_story.html
Let's ignore the fact that 'dear Pamela' has likely never even read the comic.
Let's focus on the fact that, despite doing everything in his power to make it easier for western audiences to have a greater understanding of Islam by creating a comic series based on Islamic principles and placing it in a super hero setting, people are still resisting Dr. Al-Mutawa's attempts at bringing his series to a wider market.
But why?
I'm of the personal opinion that more people would be happy to see a Muslim such as the good doctor, actively confronting the extremism of his faith that is so heavily promoted through the media, with such a means as simple and clear as a comic book, with it's goal to give young Middle Eastern people far better role models than suicide bombers. A 'New York Times' article discusses;
'The Solotaroff documentary shows scenes of how Dr. Al-Mutawa, pitching the concept to investors, strengthened his case by talking about a sticker book created by an Arab businessman showing bloody scenes of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and of suicide bombers extolling the virtues of martyrdom. This sticker book, called an “Intifada Album,” was selling to thousands of children in the West Bank.
At the end of one scene, Dr. Al-Mutawa says: “My message was very clear to investors: Muslim children need new heroes.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-ISLAMIC-COMICS.html?_r=2
Isn't that what people wanted? To confront the extremism? To combat the hatred and fanaticism that appears to be so prevalent in the Muslim world? What better way to reach young minds than with a comic book that extols such positive virtues like kindness, compassion and patience?
Or are those opposing the animated series and the comic book just taking the typical 'easy route'?
I recognize this is late, but I hope people will tune into the documentary. It airs on 'Independent Lens' on Oct. 13th. Hope you all set your recorders, DVRs, whatever.
EDIT: List of air dates added.
New York(WNET) Sun 11 PM
Los Angeles(KOCE) Sunday 11PM
Chicago (WTTW) Thursday 10PM
Philadelphia (WHYY) Thursday 10PM
Dallas(KERA) Thursday 10PM
San Francisco (KQED) Thursday 10PM
Boston (WGBH) Thursday 10PM
Atlanta (WPBA) Sunday 10PM
Seattle (KCTS) Thursday 10PM
Phoenix (KAET) Wed 10/19 10PM
Minneapolis (KWCM) Thurs 10 PM
Check here for other local listings: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/broadcast.html Find your area and tune in.
Also edited: you get a message from Issac, the film maker. My bad.
Let's support Mutawa's efforts to bring 'The 99' to the masses!