Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora (2025)

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Abstract

This article reviews the complex relationship between religion and film-viewing among theMoroccan diaspora in Antwerp (Belgium), an ethnically and linguistically diverse group thatis largely Muslim. A media ethnographic study of film culture, including in-depth interviews,a group interview and elaborate fieldwork, indicates that film preferences and consumptionvary greatly along socio-demographic and linguistic lines. One particular religious film,however, holds a cult status, Ar Risalah (The Message), a 1976 historical epic produced byMustapha Akkad that deals with the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The film’s localdistribution is discussed, as well as its reception among the Moroccan diaspora. Byidentifying three positions towards Islam, different modes of reception were found, rangingfrom a distant and objective to a transparent and subjective mode. It was found that thefilm supports inter-generational religious instruction, in the context of families andmosques. Moreover, a specific inspirational message is drawn from the film by those whoare in search of a well-defined space for Islam in their own lives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)68-94
JournalParticipations: International Journal of Audience Research
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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Smets, K. (2012). Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora. Participations: International Journal of Audience Research, 9(1), 68-94.

Smets, Kevin. / Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora. In: Participations: International Journal of Audience Research. 2012 ; Vol. 9, No. 1. pp. 68-94.

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title = "Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora",

abstract = "This article reviews the complex relationship between religion and film-viewing among the Moroccan diaspora in Antwerp (Belgium), an ethnically and linguistically diverse group that is largely Muslim. A media ethnographic study of film culture, including in-depth interviews, a group interview and elaborate fieldwork, indicates that film preferences and consumption vary greatly along socio-demographic and linguistic lines. One particular religious film, however, holds a cult status, Ar Risalah (The Message), a 1976 historical epic produced by Mustapha Akkad that deals with the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The film{\textquoteright}s local distribution is discussed, as well as its reception among the Moroccan diaspora. By identifying three positions towards Islam, different modes of reception were found, ranging from a distant and objective to a transparent and subjective mode. It was found that the film supports inter-generational religious instruction, in the context of families and mosques. Moreover, a specific inspirational message is drawn from the film by those who are in search of a well-defined space for Islam in their own lives. ",

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Smets, K 2012, 'Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora', Participations: International Journal of Audience Research, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 68-94.

Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora. / Smets, Kevin.

In: Participations: International Journal of Audience Research, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2012, p. 68-94.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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AB - This article reviews the complex relationship between religion and film-viewing among theMoroccan diaspora in Antwerp (Belgium), an ethnically and linguistically diverse group thatis largely Muslim. A media ethnographic study of film culture, including in-depth interviews,a group interview and elaborate fieldwork, indicates that film preferences and consumptionvary greatly along socio-demographic and linguistic lines. One particular religious film,however, holds a cult status, Ar Risalah (The Message), a 1976 historical epic produced byMustapha Akkad that deals with the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The film’s localdistribution is discussed, as well as its reception among the Moroccan diaspora. Byidentifying three positions towards Islam, different modes of reception were found, rangingfrom a distant and objective to a transparent and subjective mode. It was found that thefilm supports inter-generational religious instruction, in the context of families andmosques. Moreover, a specific inspirational message is drawn from the film by those whoare in search of a well-defined space for Islam in their own lives.

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Smets K. Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora. Participations: International Journal of Audience Research. 2012;9(1):68-94.

Connecting Islam and film culture: The reception of “The Message” (“Ar Risalah”) among the Moroccan diaspora (2025)
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