Journal of Social Politics and Governance (JSPG)
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Social Politics and Governance (December)

POLITICAL AND IDENTITY REPRESENTATION IN WARFARE (2025): VISUALIZING MIDDLE EASTERN MUSLIMS IN POST-9/11 AMERICAN CINEMA

Adha, Isa Ardina (Unknown)
Prihatika, Yusrina Dinar Prihatika (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study examines how Warfare (2025), a post-9/11 American war film, represents the political and identity positioning of Middle Eastern Muslims. Using Edward Said’s Orientalism, Homi K. Bhabha’s Postcolonial Theory, and qualitative textual–cinematic analysis, the research explores how the film frames American military subjectivity while minimizing the visibility and agency of Middle Eastern Muslim characters. The study aims to understand how the film’s narrative structure and visual choices shape ideological meaning and reinforce familiar patterns of representation in war cinema. The findings show that the film employs a subtle but persistent strategy of erasure, portraying Iraqi civilians only in brief, backgrounded moments without dialogue, cultural detail, or narrative importance. In contrast, the emotional and psychological experiences of U.S. soldiers are depicted with depth and consistency, encouraging viewers to align with American perspectives. These representational patterns ultimately reaffirm Orientalist hierarchies and support a broader legitimization of U.S. militarism within contemporary cinematic storytelling.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jspg

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Social Politics and Governance (JSPG) (p-ISSN: 2686-0279, e-ISSN: 2685-8096) is published by Government Studies Program, Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta twice a year (June and December). JSPG Journal collaborates with ADIPSI (Asosiasi Dosen Ilmu Pemerintahan Seluruh Indonesia) for Reviewer. ...