Media Analysis: Muslim Representation on Television: Reality TV Series
While I do enjoy Turkish dramas and their portrayal of Muslims, I was curious as to why I never see Muslims on reality TV. This could people understand more about Islam, maybe not all of it but some of it from a reality perspective and not just a scripted perspective. In the case of Survivor’s winner of 2024, Feras Basal is the first Arab Muslim to join the cast of Survivor and he wanted to show everyone that an Arab man can go on TV (Koster. 2024.). While I was researching for this assignment I noticed while there are plenty of Muslims in Turkish dramas, it was tricky looking for a Muslim portrayal regarding American scripted or reality TV shows. So, to my surprise I finally found Feras Basal on TikTok praying on the ocean rocks and it just mesmerized me in all its beauty praying to Allah in the crashing ocean waves and that’s when I realized he is (or was) on reality TV.
Not only was winning on the list but it was on the bottom of Basal’s list as he wanted to show more of the positives of Islam and being Muslim (Koster. 2024.). He wanted to show everyone from Australia to international viewers the beauty of the religion of Islam as many people don’t know much about the religion (Koster. 2024.). Not only do people not know much about the religion but also there are more negatives about Islam and Muslims being portrayed in the media more than anything (Koster. 2024.). However, in my opinion, I do believe he showed a tremendous of beauty in Islam and as being a Muslim when he prayed to Allah on television. Basal states representing his faith and culture on television and showing the world the beauty of it was such an achievement for him even more than winning (Koster. 2024).
There were challenges on the show such as not hugging women to the haram foods and drinks. Not hugging the opposite sex is out of respect according to religious and cultural context. Thankfully, the entire cast understood and respected this. He didn’t want to come off cold or rude to viewers, so he does explain it very well. He also wasn’t able to sleep next to the opposite sex.
Conclusion and analysis, these challenges are more of being challenges because of viewer perspectives. As in, when you see everyone hugging and Basal isn’t hugging any of the women, this can come off cold to come viewers who are not likely educated. Basal not having a female partner in the game is also out of respect, however, Basal recognizes how things can be seen as a viewer who doesn’t understand. This is important as perspective is everything, so he goes on to explain that this is all out of respect for women by not sleeping next to them, hugging them, or being teammates of the capacity of touching her body. I still feel he did a tremendous job representing his religion and culture to the best of his ability while also being mindful of viewers and the possibility of them not being as educated on said issues.
Reference
Alexander Koster. 2024, March 19. Australian Survivor Winner Feras Basal Explains Why Praying on TV was his Biggest Achievement. Retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/2024/03/11693216/australia-survivor-titans-rebels-winner-feras-basal-interview
