The trailer for "The Dictator" starts out showing
political leaders all over the world and then concentrates on the dictator from
Wadiya. It shows his life in his home country then moves to the dictator
deciding to come to America. At first he is shown around as a political leader
but then later on is kidnapped and gets his beard cut off and from this no one
is able to recognize him. Next he adapts to the life in America and obtains a
typical low wage job at a local deli shop.
How are the perceptions of Americans
towards Middle Eastern people portrayed in the helicopter scene?
In what ways are people in the video
stereotyped?
How do stereotypes seen in this
video affect people in society today?
How is the role of a dictator over
exaggerated?
What differences are apparent between
the two types of government?
Alejandra Arnott
Isaac Cascioli
Eric Mizelle
In the helicopter the other American tourists think that they are talking about bombing the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty when they make explosion noises, which portrays Americans as having a common paranoia that because someone is Middle Eastern, they are going to bomb us. I notice that as soon as the people in the video hear the dictator's accent, they change their behavior towards him as if he is an intruder, or that he is less than equal to them, as if Americans in New York City are supreme to him. However, since this is a comedy they exaggerate the dictator by showing him so that he seems to cheat on a lot of things to get his way, goes through a large amount of money very quickly, and abuses his position of power by subjugating anyone who has conflicting interests.
ReplyDeleteThis trailer show how people view dictators and countries with dictators. In America we are extremely free and view most countries with dictators as bad and unfair. This point is exaggerated in this clip to add humor to the video. The dictator is exaggerated in the clip by showing that he can do anything he wants. He does not have any rules that he has to follow and wins races by making the finish line shorter. Overall this is a funny clip that shows our prejudices against middle eastern people and dictators.
ReplyDeleteThe trailer emphasizes, not only America's stereotypes of people from the middle east but also stereotypes of Americans. In the helicopter scene the trailer shows just how quickly people are willing to jump to a conclusion based on the appearance of someone. The differences between the two governments are shown by making him seem all powerful and in control of everything, being able to make decisions (no matter how odd) without hesitation or fear him being wrong. It was shown when he tells the girl he could kill her and become manager, he could've done that in his country without having to worry about consequences.
ReplyDeleteThe helicopter scene shows how many Americans view middle easterners as terrorists because the Americans think they are talking about blowing up the empire state building and statue of liberty. Americans are stereotyped by viewing middle easterners as terrorists and new yorkers are stereotyped as being short tempered. These stereotypes cause other nations to view us as short sighted and self centered. The dictator is shown cheating on a race in multiple ways to make sure he wins it, which exaggerates the role of the dictator. The differences shown are that in Wadiya the dictator can do whatever he wants, such as cheating on the race, but in America he has much less power because of democracy. This is shown by the woman being manager over him and he says that he could just kill her to take her job.
ReplyDeleteThe stereotypes in society affect the people watching because even though this is a comedy, the majority of viewers agree with the jokes. Most Americans fear Middle Easterns, or are uneasy when they hear accents. The movie makes this fact funny, however it is rather sad how our society generalizes so much. It is clear that the two governments are different because in America we have democracy and he obviously is a dictator. He has full power, and in America power is shared.
ReplyDeleteThis trailer first describes a dictator who arbitrary control his country. In the running race, he is the rule and he can kill anyone. The clip uses big beard to emphasize Middle Eastern men. Many actors wear big beard in this movie and people can not recognize the dictator after he loses his big beard. However, the dictator seems does not have much thoughts, and he does what his military minister says and comes to U.S. When he is doing his low wage jobs, he does not care about the business and customers' feeling. And he shows his cruel thought, which is also a stereotype of monarchy, when he says he will be the manager if he killed the girl.
ReplyDeletethis trailer pot rays how americans view middle easterners. the war our country is going through has made a large impact on our views of life in countries in the middle east. most americans fear the people just because of a few bad guys. this video takes our fears and expands them. i laughed because the video makes our fears of them look dumb.
ReplyDeleteThe commercial shows how typically Americans can be quick to make hasty racial generalizations about people based on their nationality. For example the guy showing the dictator around talks about how the dictator should visit somewhere before "him or one of his cousins knocks it down" referring to him as a terrorist. I believe the role of the dictator is not actually exaggerated but that the character is a combination of various infamous dictators from all around the world. The movie is basically using satire to poke fun at dictators or leaders around the world or more specifically in the middle east.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting the way the trialer is able to portray America. They bring a dictator whom is a complete opposite representation of the US to exaggerate how we as a country are seen. I feel the trailer's point it is trying to make to the audience is that America is viewed as this huge country that allows people to do whatever they want. Exemplified when the dictator visits and does exactly that. When in actuality, an argument is being presented that we as Americans have this freedom but we should also note that it is not without restrictions. Maybe the creators are also making the point that freedom is not without restrictions? For the dictator is also forced to restrictions when the hotel manager cuts his beard off and throws him into society to deal with daily issues. Even he is cut down from his luxurious life and he no longer able to experience the "free for all" feel he gets upon first arrival.
ReplyDeleteStereotyping is used among all the types of people in this movie trailer. In the helicopter ride I find it comical that the two foreign characters are having a harmless conversation about the landmarks in NY, but due to their sound effects, the Americans there with them completely misinterpret what they're saying. Their thoughts of panic just go to show you how we as Americans have this idea ingrained in our minds on how a particular ethnicity is threatening. Majority of people know nothing past the general opinion and therefore just follow along with what everyone else thinks.The dictator is over exaggerated in the way of that majority of his actions wouldn't actually occur with so little of a reaction from the public. He is very overbearing and inconsiderate; qualities that any leader can't possess in order to be successful.
ReplyDeleteThis trailer stereotypes the way Americans view countries from the Middle East. A common perception of Middle Eastern countries is that they are run by dictatorships and are all for oppression. This stereotype was shown when the dictator was saying how he believed in free press, a fair electron, and equal rights for woman but started laughing afterwards, suggesting that he was being sarcastic about his statements. Another stereotype of people from the Middle East is that they all are look alike; meaning they are of Muslim descent and have large beards. This was evident when that guy cut of the dictator's beard and no one was able to recognize him. Finally, the last stereotype I spotted was when the people in the helicopter where afraid of the dictator because of the 9/11 indecent. The stereotypes here where used for a comedic effect to satirize the silly ways in which Americans stereotype people form the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteThe movie trailer portrays those of Middle Eastern descent as violent, scary, and still plotting to destroy American landmarks similar to the attacks on 9/11. The helicopter scene has a great depiction of American's stereotypes towards Middle Eastern. The faces that the "white people" make as they are listening to the dictator and his Middle Eastern friend talk in another language, mention big American landmarks, and hearing explosion noises are terrified and they begin screaming. However, I don't think that they exaggerated the role of the dictator. In the beginning of the trailer, it shows the dictator running a race and shooting those that are catching up to him or getting in his way. Although this may seem comical and exaggerate to some because those actions are unheard of in America, things do happen like that in other countries. Take Hitler for example; he was a dictator and took part in behaviors similar to that of the one in the movie. Americans are just not used to having an "evil" dictator in power.
ReplyDeleteThe movie trailer creates humor by satirizing stereotypes. With a heavy accent, the main character is depicted and stereotyped as a Middle Eastern tourist. The helicopter scene was an apparent satirization, as the "American" passengers became apprehensive and had looks of concern on their faces when the dictator and his friend started talking in a different language. This scene, along with the others that use stereotypes, attempt to add humor to the movie by satarizing the common view that many Americans share towards people of Middle Eastern decent.
ReplyDeleteThis movie trailer portrays the Americans in the helicopter as being afraid of the middle eastern men, which is a stereotypical. The dictator was over exaggerated because he was shooting people and slapping people like he could do whatever he wanted. This movie trailer made me laugh because it shows how silly the fears are, because you cant judge people based on a few bad guys that are from the same culture.
ReplyDeleteIn the clip,it shows the stereotypes of Middle Easterns from American. The exaggerate race, the bushy bear, the specific accent and the sence from the helicopter which is a midunderstand that Americans afraid that dictator and another Middle Eastern guy would bomb the Empire State Building are all express the stereotypes and prejudices of Americans to middle eastern people. The clip express the differences between American culture and Middle Eastern culture. It express the freedom and democrary in America, but also express the good self-feeling of America. Americans are used to judge people from their stereotypes of others, like the guys in the helicopter afraid of the dictator just when they hear his accent.
ReplyDeleteA humorous dictator from the middle east is portrayed in this clip. Without his iconic beard, no one can recognize him. the dictator needs to survive in the New York City on his own. Without the his crown, he is no better than any normal people. By satirizing his humorous and arrogant behavior, the tailor enhance the unfairness of the totalitarian country and their rule-less feature. Since he is the dictator, he can do anything he wants. After the horrible 9.11, Americans always link the people from the middle east with that. That's why the American couple on the helicopter is so scared and even burst out screaming.
ReplyDeleteAs I have read from the comments so far many people are mentioning the scene in the helicopter. I feel like this scene is satirizing how unreasonable people's fear of foreigners actually is. Especially those of muslim descent. I feel like the fact they were talking about major landmarks in New York and then the fireworks exploding but the other two tourists thought they meant that they wanted to blow it up just once again shows the stereotype and unreasonable fear that some people have.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the clip, we see that the life of Americans differ from the life of Middle East people that are under control of the Dictator. Like mentioned in comments above, we see the Dictator’s role being exaggerated mostly when he is in his own country where he is able to dictate and do whatever he please; For example, outrageously shooting other runners so that he wins a race. Also, I found the helicopter scene to be comical and kind of informal. Comical because like Nicole mentioned, they’re just having a harmless conversation about New York landmarks, yet the American Couple perceive their conversation differently which puts them in a panic. I found it somewhat informal, because by the American couple’s actions we can conclude that because of the tragedy that took place on 9/11, we now are more couscous and scared when it comes to situations like that. It’s safe to say that if you were on a helicopter or plane with two Middle Eastern people, you would too become a little paranoid. It’s sad to say, but that’s just proof that we Americans do stereotype others.
ReplyDeleteThe helicopter scene shows how Americans are always paranoid about Middle Eastern people since September 11th. Even airlines have been known to be stereotyping, by taking Middle Eastern's for selective screening
ReplyDeleteThe trailer portrays Americans being scared of middle eastern people. When they are in the helicopter the Americans sitting across from them get very frightened even though they are only talking about see different sights in New York. The dictator is over exaggerated a bit because he is able to do everything, a real life dictator can do what ever they want but in the trailer Cohen wins a race by shooting people and having the finish line brought to him. Things like that are what is exaggerated about dictators in this trailer.
ReplyDeleteAs most people have mentioned, this video portrays the americans as being scared of middle eastern people, whether they know them or not. In the video, as soon as the dictator and his friend start speaking the americans tense up as if they are expecting something bad to happen. When the dictator and his friend start making explosion noises the americans freak out and assume that they are planning an attack. The americans jumping to conclusions about people of middle eastern decent is a common reaction today. The dictator is exaggerated in the ways he handles money, women, and his power.
ReplyDeleteThe Dictator seems to be just another excuse for Sasha Baron Cohen to use his middle eastern accent. The movie exaggerates not only middle eastern civilians, but dictators as well. For example, a dictator would never have female guards, no matter how scantily clad they were. Sasha Baron Cohen also parodies actual members of recent history, especially in his clothing which strongly reference the recently deceased dictator Gaddafi.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this video illustrates a very important issue with Americans today. The trailer highlights the fact that people jump to conclusions way too quickly and this is outline perfectly by the helicopter scene. One large thing that is over exaggerated is the beard stereotype because most people would still be able to recognize a world leader if they shaved.
ReplyDelete