New Books in Islamic Studies Kristian Petersen, "Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology" (Ilex Foundation, 2021)
Sep 17, 2021
Kristian Petersen, Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University, discusses his edited volume on Muslims in cinema. He highlights the importance of diverse representations of Muslims in films from various countries, addressing themes like Islamophobia and identity politics. The conversation also touches on the educational value of integrating film into courses on Islam and culture. Petersen explores how narratives involving 'incidental Muslims' in genres like sci-fi can impact perceptions, challenging stereotypes and fostering deeper understanding.
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Origin of Interest
- Kristian Petersen's interest in Islam and film started with a college course, Cinema and the Sacred.
- It deepened while using foreign language films during his PhD language studies.
Gap in Scholarship
- Existing scholarship often focuses on negative representations of Muslims, especially in Hollywood.
- Petersen wanted to showcase Muslim creatives and the diversity of representations.
Inspiration for the Book
- Petersen's edited volume was inspired by a meeting with Michael Pergill, editor of Mizan.
- The meeting, focused on diverse scholarship, led to the idea for a book on Muslims and film.
