Pierce Livingston

Gidion
ERWC
February 17, 2015
Research Topic Proposal
I. Research Topic and Projected Significance
I have chosen use of propaganda as my topic for the research paper.
Specifically, I would like to focus my research around the use of propaganda to
contribute to and heighten structuralized Islamophobia in America. I believe this
topic is very significant and worth studying because we as a society should not
allow any non-harmful group of people to be discriminated against. By examining
this problem I hope to open the eyes of my audience to structuralized
Islamophobia (and oppression in general), allowing them to question their own
conscious or unconscious preconceptions that society has planted into their minds
about Islam. I intend to accomplish this by comparing contemporary examples
(such as Chris Kyle's American Sniper and the Chapel Hill shooting) with examples
from Brave New World, illustrating the effect propaganda can have on any society,
dystopian or otherwise.
II..

Leading Research Question & Hypothesis/Thesis

Leading Research Question: Propaganda has contributed to and heightened

structuralized Islamophobia in America. What effect could this have on the future
of American society and how could we as a society stop this phenomenon?
Working Hypothesis: Personal recognition of Islamophobia is the first step
toward erasing this attitude. By looking into ourselves we can identify how society
has used propaganda to ingrain prejudices into our minds and proceed to erase
these notions which have no rational basis. From there, we as individuals can
spread our new awareness to friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances,
garnering public support that will eventually lead to a shift in public opinion. As
public opinion shifts, structuralized Islamophobia will be slowly but surely
dismantled, as the phenomenon is unable to function without the (conscious or
unconscious) approval of the majority.
III.Theoretical Research Collection
Structuralized Islamophobia is a social phenomenon, and as such much of
my research will be based on the recorded experiences of Muslim Americans. In
addition, examples of propaganda and public reaction will be instrumental in
constructing my essay. Some of my first questions are as follows:

1. How can we define structuralized oppression? What examples could be

presented (using Islam or any other minority group) so the audience has a
firm understanding of the topic before moving forward into the rest of the
essay?
2. How has American media portrayed Islam in the past?
3. How has the American portrayal of Islam changed after the 9/11 terrorist
attack?
4. What effect has American media had on American Muslims?
5. How are movies used as propaganda?
6. What effect can a widely-seen film have on the general public?
7. What can we contrast in media coverage between the Charlie Hebdo
terrorist shooting and the Chapel Hill terrorist shooting? How does this
support the existence of structuralized Islamophobia?
8. How does any Islamic terrorist attack affect the lives of innocent Muslim
Americans?
9. How can I use my personal experience of structuralized oppression to gain
credibility with the audience?