النص
Volume 11, Numéro 2, Pages 111-132
2025-12-10
Revisiting Cultural And Ethnic Stereotypes: The Representation Of Arabs And Muslims In Fox’s Prime-time Animated Sitcom American Dad
Authors : Bouchagra Reda . Maoui Hocine .
Abstract
This paper seeks to revisit the polemical and controversial representation of Arabs and Muslims in Fox’s prime-time animated sitcom American Dad, focusing on how humour, dark humour, absurdism and puns perpetuate cultural and ethnic stereotypes. Leaning upon postcolonialism, particularly Edward Said’s concept of “Orientalism”, and Jack Shaheen’s cinematic investigations, the paper delves into the sitcom’s problematic portrayals and their implications for societal attitudes in a post-9/11 context. Through a close examination of five key episodes—“Stan of Arabia”, “Homeland Insecurity”, “Rough Trade”, “The One That Got Away” and “The Unbrave One”—. The findings reveal how the animated sitcom never challenges harmful biases but rather reflects and reinforces them. Ultimately, it calls for more nuanced representations of Arab and Muslim communities in media to foster empathy and understanding.
Keywords
Arabs and Muslims ; Cultural and Ethnic Stereotypes ; American Dad ; Postcolonialism ; 9/11
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