Open AccessGlobal and local media dynamics in identity construction among British Muslims after September 11
Author(s) -
Mohamed Ben Moussa
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
stream
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1916-5897
DOI - 10.21810/strm.v4i1.32
Subject(s) - terrorism , appropriation , identity (music) , media studies , dialectic , ethnography , sociology , consumption (sociology) , islam , gender studies , political science , political economy , geography , law , social science , philosophy , linguistics , physics , archaeology , epistemology , acoustics , anthropology
The terrorist attacks of September 11 have become a defining moment not only in the history of the US where they took place, but also in the history of Muslims around the world, particularly those living in Western countries. Muslim diasporas in the West have found themselves at the heart of global events and networks: a global war on terrorism, global flows of images and ideas, and a global Muslim community or Umma. Central to these various processes is undoubtedly the role played by new media and communication technologies, mainly transnational TV channels. Thus, based on an ethnographic study conducted in the city of Leeds, this paper explores the dialectic between local and transnational media, particularly British media and Arab satellite television channels, and the extent to which they have shaped identity building among British Muslims after September11. It argues that the use, appropriation and consumption of these media do certainly have a significant impact on how British Muslims define themselves. However, it demonstrates also that this role is far from being deterministic and it is only one among many other factors that condition identity building among British Muslims.