Arabs in the Media: The Perennial Enemy?

Recently, Electronic Arts Medal of Honor faced the wrath of war time USA, when it was essentially forced to change the option for gamers to play as the 'Taliban' after protests from military personnel and family of servicemen, among others. 

Member of the 'Opposing Force' in Medal of Honor

While the 'Taliban' title was changed to 'Opposing Force' the furore does raise the issue of what is acceptable and to whom, in the gaming world. For years, Arab's and Russians have been easy enemies in US military games, and in the Sony's SOCOM series, for example, you dispatch Arabs and Russians by the dozen. And even the very recent release, Homefront, has a downtrodden America invaded and occupied by a 'Greater Korean Republic' (complete with nuclear arsenal). But these are 'traditional' enemies of the US (North Korea being part of Cheney's 'Axis of Evil'), so killing them is 'no problem' (COD Black Ops set circa 1960's Cold War includes Cuba, Vietnam and Laos along with Russia). But how would an Arab or Russian feel about that?

Those who protested the inclusion of the term 'Taliban' make a point. It hits close to home for those who have lost loved ones to the war in Afghanistan or who live with the knowledge that it's always a possibility. But that's only from the American point of view. Let's face it, political issues determine much of the content of military games. Certainly in Medal of Honor's case. 

Arabs (and all non-whites) have the tendency to be typecast in American media - they are usually the terrorist. That this is nothing new only compounds the problem because it doesn't seem to be going away. The bulk of console games (and developers) are produced in the West, so they are designed with Western sensibilities, perspective and markets in mind. Fair enough. But the gaming world is well....the world. Do the heroes have to be portrayed by Western, and usually white, characters?

Take Dead Space 2 - no doubt one of my favourites and I wouldn't change a thing about the characters. But for arguments sake; it's set in space in a fictional place and time. Race, nationality or ethnic origin can't be that much of a factor can it? Would it matter if Isaac Clarke was Ahmad Abdullah or Rajiv Singh? Now that I've said it out loud...maybe it would.

It may be a self-perpetuating cycle. The constant affirmation of stereotypes make it difficult for us to accept anything outside of them, and perhaps an Indian superhero or Arab 'good guy' is just too unbelievable. As it is, minority groups must justify their presence in Western media through their minority status. A black guy must be, well black and 'ghetto', an Arab must be a terrorist and a Chinese guy a Karate expert. 

An interesting article in the LATimes looked at the issue of Arab stereotyping in the US which increased post 9/11, and cited the frustration some Arab Americans feel regarding the narrow range their ethnicity attracts. But in the gaming world the voice is what matters - race may not have to be an issue regarding finding work. But the issue here isn't so much work as it is perception. 

The big question: How does the Arab world feel about all this? Your turn.