In a Lecture at the BA, Cynthia Schneider Describes Pop Culture as a Tool for Understanding Between Peoples
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Alexandria—
The BA organized on Thursday, 17 April 2008, a lecture entitled “Cultural Connections between the US and the Muslim World: the Reality and the Potential” by Cynthia P. Schneider, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and Former US Ambassador to the Netherlands and moderated by Ambassador Hagar Islambouly, Head of the BA External Relations Sector.
At the beginning of the lecture, Dr. Schneider presented a photo of the late American President Thomas Jefferson, and spoke about his interest in art and science at the same time. She pointed out that popular culture such as jazz, Hip Hop music, films and series are important tools of communication between peoples and nations. She referred to the Cold War in the seventies and eighties; which she described as the war of ideas, during which the USA spent fortunes on cultural programs. This spending decreased enormously in the nineties, a matter that led to a huge cultural gap between the United States and the Islamic world.
Dr. Schneider stated that during the Soviet era, the United States promoted capitalism and democracy in Europe and the Soviet Union to urge them to reject communism and leftist regimes, through cultural programs, however she said: "This is no longer feasible in the modern age; dialogue should be extended between the United States and the Islamic World based on mutual respect and understanding of the identity and values of each party".
She mentioned that Gallup Institute conducted a poll among Muslims from many countries including the United States, which showed that the cause of division between Muslims and the United States is the USA’s disrespect to Muslims and the lack of mutual understanding.
At the end of her talk, Schneider recommended that culture be placed at the centre of international diplomacy and noted that American films and series do not necessarily reflect the official vision of the USA, and stressed that the negative image of Muslims, should be changed through cinema, art and culture in general, especially in the aftermath of September 11.