John Kerry has met with the heads of Hollywood studios to discuss ways in which they can provide an alternative to the Isis narrative.
The US secretary of state tweeted a picture of himself with the heads of Universal, Fox, Sony, Warner Bros and other major companies, with the words: “Great convo w/ studio execs in LA. Good to hear their perspectives & ideas of how to counter #Daesh narrative”.
Daesh is another term for Isis and is an acronym for “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil Iraq wa al-Sham”, an Arabic phrase which translates as Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Syria). However, it is close to the term “Dahes” (one who sows discord) and is therefore used to insult the group.
Great convo w studio execs in LA. Good to hear their perspectives & ideas of how to counter #Daesh narrative. pic.twitter.com/AGhesmg1zK
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 17, 2016
It was a 90-minute meeting held at Universal and according to Variety, one attendee claimed it was an exchange of ideas as to how Hollywood and the government might work together to make narrative storytelling cross cultures.
The aim is to counter the narrative that Isis is providing and to see how film might take an important role. The organisation has already showed an interest in cinema by controversially using clips from Oliver Reed movie Lion of the Desert in their propaganda.
They have also produced a number of films with high production values, aimed at recruiting a younger audience. “These videos are key,” said Roger Stahl, associate professor of communication studies at the University of Georgia. “They are necessary in Isis’s effort to paint itself as a continual target of the west’s enmity. The group has learned that, in order to cut through the clutter and noise of the infosphere, it must continually up the ante.”
