MovieChat Forums > All-American Muslim (2011) Discussion > I understand why it exists...but why wou...

I understand why it exists...but why would people WATCH it?

posted 12 years ago by micCee
12 replies | jump to latest

It exists to promote tolerance and inclusion...all that good stuff. But why would people actually be interested in watching it, knowing that the families will just be going about their normal, mundane daily lives? The only reason I can think why people would intentionally turn to TLC to watch it is to award themselves 'good deed' marks for making the effort to learn about people practicing a different faith...no matter how excruciatingly dull that effort actually turns out to be. Either that, or they put it on for the children.

The whole concept seems pretty unassuming and from what I gather, nobody connected to the show is even pretending that this is going to be in the slightest bit entertaining or informative (beyond the 'Muslims are just like the rest of us' moral, I mean).

So, to those who have watched this...why?

[–] irishaspaddyspig 12 years ago

It's reality tv. Nothing more.
It's a shame, a missed opportunity.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] Spongeyone 12 years ago

which is why people pretty much aren't anymore

[–] ztlfire 12 years ago

I dont see anything informative of it other than - they are normal. Guess that was the goal.

I am a chick and this is my sig

[–] micCee 12 years ago

That was indeed the goal. It's just not a particularly interesting goal. By the very nature of the premise, they had to select boring people and depict them doing boring things.

[–] Movie_map 12 years ago

Most 'reality TV' is crap yet people watch it. And it seldom has anything to do with reality.

[–] micCee 12 years ago

This is rather pedestrian, even by reality TV standards. Everything on TLC is actually rubbish...with the possible exception of Hoarders. This show lacks any kind of premise other than to normalise Islam in American society. It's a noble goal, but the show lacks any merit in terms of entertainment or informative value.

[–] purpledragonfly0505 12 years ago

It exists to upset and rattle the cages of non-muslim/capitalistic/average Americans who are scarred by September 11th; not for tolerance nor inclusion, but for picking at the scabs of not yet healed wounds.

Why, in the name of all that is cynical, do any of you think this show was launched in 2011? November. Of 2011. On American Television. Hello? Really?!!!

For Christ's sake, this show has no value...it's set up specifically either to preach to the choir ("Muslims are people, too!") or agitate those who aren't afraid of angrily pointing out differences in cultures ("We value life! They value life after death!") It serves no purpose but to get Christian capitalist Americans ranting and 'American Muslims' blurting out all the justifications of their religion that they can muster.

Anyone who watches this show - Christian/Jew/Muslim/Agnostic or Athiest - should feel insulted, as a TV watcher, that this piffle was offered for viewing and grappling.

It doesn't get lower than using 9/11.

[–] micCee 12 years ago

11/11? What's significant about 11/11?

[–] purpledragonfly0505 12 years ago

Uh...you've had since Christmas to figure this out...

The premiere date was sandwiched between the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and Veterans' Day. Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????

If you are not American, well....okay then.

But if you ARE, you need to kick every teacher you've ever had square in the ASS for not educating you properly enough to know this without needing to ask someone on IMDB.

For Christ's sake!

[–] qhapaqinka 12 years ago

I started watching it because I was curious to see how the show would portray American Muslims. I'm still watching it now because I find the people interesting (yes, even though they're doing mundane things), and because I enjoy seeing how these Muslims strike a balance between their religious and secular lives - something I grapple with as well. I think the show has been serving a good purpose, notwithstanding whether the original intent was to inform or to merely entertain.
Personally, I'd like to see a similar show about a contemporary Native American community.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]