DDD
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
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- Republic of Dardania
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Does anyone else thinks that the portrayal of Albanians in Hollywood movies is skewed?
The first introduction of Albanians and Albania in the TV media took place in my opinion with “The Simpsons” season 1, episode 11 named “The Crepes of Wrath.” Though it was aired in 15th of April, 1990 (i.e., no negative issues between USA-Albania back then or ever before for that matter), Albania is portrayed as the “unfriendly nation” nevertheless. A student exchange program brought a young student Albanian boy named Fadil in exchange for Bart who happened to go to France instead of Albania (interesting student exchange program – I thought the exchange takes place between same countries not a third one like France). The Albanian boy turned out to be a spy for the Albanian government, secretly delivering information about nuclear power. When he is captured from the feds the then exchange Fadil for a spy of their own that was captured in Albania in return.
The Crepes Of Wrath - YouTube
I read at our newspapers that the Albanians were being mentioned at “The Simpsons” because John Belushi (the Albanian American comedian that passed away) knew the producers and brought us to their attention. So it happened that we were suddenly in USA media because of friendly ties between well known actors.
In the movie “Wag the Dog” aired in 1997, the USA had to even proclaim war on Albania so as to cover a sexual scandal of the USA President. On one scene James Belushi (the brother of John Belushi who passed away) stands on front of news cameras and openly declares that he is an Albanian in the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNo0BicRM8k
Then came some ridiculing. One of Albanians most iconic humanitarian figures, the beatified from the Pope, Nobel prize winning nun, whom dedicated her life for the poor and starving – Mother Tereza.
In Memory of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta - YouTube
The ridicule came in the comedy movie “Scary Movie 3: Alien Invasion” where you can see small toys of mother Theresa’s, as well as her picture being smashed to pieces with a shotgun from the Presidents bodyguards while they were finding a way to be free from the "Aliens." The ridicule is a bit vague in that firstly, what is wrong with having toys of a beatified person who has died? And secondly the characters had to find a way out and were in severe distress at the time to respect a framed picture.
Scary Movie 3 Alien Invasion (Part 1) - YouTube
Then suddenly we are on stage as criminals! Albanians are portrayed as criminals in “Taken” in 2008 with Liam Neesen. Albanians are lowest order thugs whom kidnap young girls for trafficking them.
Taken Trailer - YouTube
The same theme follows in "Taken 2" in 2012. Ironically the Mafia boss was played lousily from a Serbian actor:
Taken 2 - Official Trailer (2012) Liam Neeson [HD] - YouTube
Luckily the theme was dropped for "Taken 3." But Albanians are criminals again in the comedy movie "Let's Be Cops:"
Let's Be Cops Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr. Movie HD - YouTube
The European versions of portraying Albanians as criminals followed. There is Dossier K (2010) the Belgium, Flemish thriller movie, where Albanians are portrayed as criminals involved in various illegal activities ranging from drugs to assassinations.
Trailer Dossier K. - YouTube
And Der Albaner (2010) which is a German movie that explains of a poor Albanian that must earn enough money in Germany to buy his love of his life, even if he has to be involved with human trafficking. He does gets away with it too, which brings mixed feelings and thoughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V3c2IJT1dQ
Here is a disturbing scene of Greek border police brutalizing Albanians in the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtFWxgHagUs
So one would say that the portrayals are skewed. There are other variations both within the theme "enforcers" (i.e., Why crime enforcers? Where are Albanian law enforcers? Military enforcers?) as well as other variations of Albanians altogether (e.g., politicians, intellectuals, researchers, teachers, sports, etc).
With such skewed exposure Americans and the rest of the world may have skewed expectations of us (i.e., prejudice). I think the stereotype of the "Albanian enforcer" has been overdone.
So again, does anyone else thinks that viewers are exposed to skewed Albanian themes and characters in the media? Is there a risk of a stereotype (e.g., Black athlete stereotypes, Italian mafia stereotypes, Asian workaholic stereotypes, etc)? If so, what do you think what kind of exposure of a new portrayal may balance this skewed portrayal of the "Albanian enforcer" alone?
The first introduction of Albanians and Albania in the TV media took place in my opinion with “The Simpsons” season 1, episode 11 named “The Crepes of Wrath.” Though it was aired in 15th of April, 1990 (i.e., no negative issues between USA-Albania back then or ever before for that matter), Albania is portrayed as the “unfriendly nation” nevertheless. A student exchange program brought a young student Albanian boy named Fadil in exchange for Bart who happened to go to France instead of Albania (interesting student exchange program – I thought the exchange takes place between same countries not a third one like France). The Albanian boy turned out to be a spy for the Albanian government, secretly delivering information about nuclear power. When he is captured from the feds the then exchange Fadil for a spy of their own that was captured in Albania in return.
The Crepes Of Wrath - YouTube
I read at our newspapers that the Albanians were being mentioned at “The Simpsons” because John Belushi (the Albanian American comedian that passed away) knew the producers and brought us to their attention. So it happened that we were suddenly in USA media because of friendly ties between well known actors.
In the movie “Wag the Dog” aired in 1997, the USA had to even proclaim war on Albania so as to cover a sexual scandal of the USA President. On one scene James Belushi (the brother of John Belushi who passed away) stands on front of news cameras and openly declares that he is an Albanian in the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNo0BicRM8k
Then came some ridiculing. One of Albanians most iconic humanitarian figures, the beatified from the Pope, Nobel prize winning nun, whom dedicated her life for the poor and starving – Mother Tereza.
In Memory of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta - YouTube
The ridicule came in the comedy movie “Scary Movie 3: Alien Invasion” where you can see small toys of mother Theresa’s, as well as her picture being smashed to pieces with a shotgun from the Presidents bodyguards while they were finding a way to be free from the "Aliens." The ridicule is a bit vague in that firstly, what is wrong with having toys of a beatified person who has died? And secondly the characters had to find a way out and were in severe distress at the time to respect a framed picture.
Scary Movie 3 Alien Invasion (Part 1) - YouTube
Then suddenly we are on stage as criminals! Albanians are portrayed as criminals in “Taken” in 2008 with Liam Neesen. Albanians are lowest order thugs whom kidnap young girls for trafficking them.
Taken Trailer - YouTube
The same theme follows in "Taken 2" in 2012. Ironically the Mafia boss was played lousily from a Serbian actor:
Taken 2 - Official Trailer (2012) Liam Neeson [HD] - YouTube
Luckily the theme was dropped for "Taken 3." But Albanians are criminals again in the comedy movie "Let's Be Cops:"
Let's Be Cops Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr. Movie HD - YouTube
The European versions of portraying Albanians as criminals followed. There is Dossier K (2010) the Belgium, Flemish thriller movie, where Albanians are portrayed as criminals involved in various illegal activities ranging from drugs to assassinations.
Trailer Dossier K. - YouTube
And Der Albaner (2010) which is a German movie that explains of a poor Albanian that must earn enough money in Germany to buy his love of his life, even if he has to be involved with human trafficking. He does gets away with it too, which brings mixed feelings and thoughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V3c2IJT1dQ
Here is a disturbing scene of Greek border police brutalizing Albanians in the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtFWxgHagUs
So one would say that the portrayals are skewed. There are other variations both within the theme "enforcers" (i.e., Why crime enforcers? Where are Albanian law enforcers? Military enforcers?) as well as other variations of Albanians altogether (e.g., politicians, intellectuals, researchers, teachers, sports, etc).
With such skewed exposure Americans and the rest of the world may have skewed expectations of us (i.e., prejudice). I think the stereotype of the "Albanian enforcer" has been overdone.
So again, does anyone else thinks that viewers are exposed to skewed Albanian themes and characters in the media? Is there a risk of a stereotype (e.g., Black athlete stereotypes, Italian mafia stereotypes, Asian workaholic stereotypes, etc)? If so, what do you think what kind of exposure of a new portrayal may balance this skewed portrayal of the "Albanian enforcer" alone?
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