Comments on: Looking at Little Mosque’s Layla http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/ Looking at Muslim women in the media and pop culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:36:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Zahra (with a Z) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7550 Zahra (with a Z) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:19:24 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7550 @ Krista Thanks for taking the feedback in the spirit it was intended. I very much look forward to your piece on Fatima (and no doubt the others in the meantime). @ Krista

Thanks for taking the feedback in the spirit it was intended. I very much look forward to your piece on Fatima (and no doubt the others in the meantime).

]]> By: Krista http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7549 Krista Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:38:55 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7549 @ Zahra: Good point, and thanks for bringing it up. As you said, there are specific reasons that the other characters have been covered, but you're right that it's problematic not to look more specifically at Fatima's character too. I'll get right on that, insha'Allah (probably in a few weeks, since I have a couple posts planned already.) @ Nadia: That's interesting, I didn't remember that conversation between Layla and her dad about her praying at school. But the episode about Sarah trying to pray is what I was referencing when I said that the only time that prayer has been discussed in-depth was in the context of it being pretty much impossible to keep it up five times a day (see my post on Sarah: http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/10/looking-at-sarah-from-little-mosque/), which I found frustrating, because the show hasn't had many moments where it has shown that other characters probably do manage to incorporate it into their days without, for example, becoming so sleep-deprived that they pass out at work. @ Zahra: Good point, and thanks for bringing it up. As you said, there are specific reasons that the other characters have been covered, but you’re right that it’s problematic not to look more specifically at Fatima’s character too. I’ll get right on that, insha’Allah (probably in a few weeks, since I have a couple posts planned already.)

@ Nadia: That’s interesting, I didn’t remember that conversation between Layla and her dad about her praying at school. But the episode about Sarah trying to pray is what I was referencing when I said that the only time that prayer has been discussed in-depth was in the context of it being pretty much impossible to keep it up five times a day (see my post on Sarah: http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/10/looking-at-sarah-from-little-mosque/), which I found frustrating, because the show hasn’t had many moments where it has shown that other characters probably do manage to incorporate it into their days without, for example, becoming so sleep-deprived that they pass out at work.

]]> By: Zahra (with a Z) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7548 Zahra (with a Z) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:54:28 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7548 I really enjoyed this piece, which actually got me to watch LMOTP for the first time. I hope they develop this aspect of Layla's personality further. I would really love to see this site do a write-up on the character of Fatima as you have for Sarah, Rayyan, and Layla. From the little I've seen, I think there would be interesting things to say (among other things, about how often she's referred to as Nigerian v. "African," and how her role as advisor works with black female stereotypes). I've looked through your LMOTP pieces, but I haven't found any sustained consideration of her character. After all, Fatima is a member of the main cast, while Layla is only recurring. I realize that you have clear hooks that have prompted the other pieces in the order they've come about, but it seems wrong to devote attention to all the female characters except the black one. I really enjoyed this piece, which actually got me to watch LMOTP for the first time. I hope they develop this aspect of Layla’s personality further.

I would really love to see this site do a write-up on the character of Fatima as you have for Sarah, Rayyan, and Layla. From the little I’ve seen, I think there would be interesting things to say (among other things, about how often she’s referred to as Nigerian v. “African,” and how her role as advisor works with black female stereotypes). I’ve looked through your LMOTP pieces, but I haven’t found any sustained consideration of her character.

After all, Fatima is a member of the main cast, while Layla is only recurring. I realize that you have clear hooks that have prompted the other pieces in the order they’ve come about, but it seems wrong to devote attention to all the female characters except the black one.

]]> By: shaista http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7547 shaista Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:57:11 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7547 Thanks for this post, Krista. I don't know what happened to my love for the little mosque, but it simply disappeared after the first season. I might get into it again over my Dec break. :-) Thanks for this post, Krista. I don’t know what happened to my love for the little mosque, but it simply disappeared after the first season. I might get into it again over my Dec break. :-)

]]> By: Jehanzeb http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7546 Jehanzeb Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:01:28 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7546 This is an excellent post, Krista :) I am also happy with how Layla's character is developing and breaking stereotypes, especially about Muslim women who don't wear hijaab. I was worried at the beginning of the season because I think there were three or four episodes without her, but it was great to see her back. It's good to see that Baber is learning *from* Layla, too. I definitely see the relationship between Baber and Layla being personal to Zarqa Nawaz. Most of the episodes about their relationship (including this one) were written by her. It adds a heart-warming element to the show. As a side note, I think this season had a slow start, but it is redeeming itself with the last 3 or 4 episodes in my opinion. I don't like the new reverend either, but I'm glad to see that others appreciate him, lol. I like the fact that he was made to look stupid in this episode. I think I'm getting use to him now (maybe because he hasn't been as offensive as he was in the first few episodes). I still miss reverend Magee :( This is an excellent post, Krista :) I am also happy with how Layla’s character is developing and breaking stereotypes, especially about Muslim women who don’t wear hijaab. I was worried at the beginning of the season because I think there were three or four episodes without her, but it was great to see her back.

It’s good to see that Baber is learning *from* Layla, too. I definitely see the relationship between Baber and Layla being personal to Zarqa Nawaz. Most of the episodes about their relationship (including this one) were written by her. It adds a heart-warming element to the show.

As a side note, I think this season had a slow start, but it is redeeming itself with the last 3 or 4 episodes in my opinion. I don’t like the new reverend either, but I’m glad to see that others appreciate him, lol. I like the fact that he was made to look stupid in this episode. I think I’m getting use to him now (maybe because he hasn’t been as offensive as he was in the first few episodes). I still miss reverend Magee :(

]]> By: Nadia http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7545 Nadia Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:13:41 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7545 About the prayer 5x/day not being mentioned, I haven't watched this shaw past the 2nd season, but I definitely remember Leila having a conversation with her dad about how people look at her weird when she prays at school. Also there was like a whole episode where Rayyan's mom tried to pray 5x a day where they went into and I'm sure there were a bunch of other times that I can't remember off the top of my head. The first season especially there was a lot of exposition about tenets of Islam, later it seemed to be taken as a given with more focus on the story/characters. About the prayer 5x/day not being mentioned, I haven’t watched this shaw past the 2nd season, but I definitely remember Leila having a conversation with her dad about how people look at her weird when she prays at school. Also there was like a whole episode where Rayyan’s mom tried to pray 5x a day where they went into and I’m sure there were a bunch of other times that I can’t remember off the top of my head. The first season especially there was a lot of exposition about tenets of Islam, later it seemed to be taken as a given with more focus on the story/characters.

]]> By: Krista http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7544 Krista Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:23:37 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7544 Haha, really? You're the first person I've heard say they actually find him funny. I just find him soooo annoying, and most other comments I've seen/heard on this new season feel the same way. Glad some of you manage to enjoy his character though :) Haha, really? You’re the first person I’ve heard say they actually find him funny. I just find him soooo annoying, and most other comments I’ve seen/heard on this new season feel the same way. Glad some of you manage to enjoy his character though :)

]]> By: Laury http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2009/12/looking-at-little-mosques-layla/#comment-7543 Laury Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:10:46 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.org/?p=5213#comment-7543 I like the new season and the Reverend. He is really funny, to me at least. Well my family thinks he is funny, too. He is a good foil for Amr's earnest straight man. I like it that the network is treating it like a regular sitcom not an "event." But I have to agree with what you say here about Baber and Layla. They are, without a doubt, my favorites on the show. Baber has even taught me to look kindly on "uncles." I like the new season and the Reverend. He is really funny, to me at least. Well my family thinks he is funny, too. He is a good foil for Amr’s earnest straight man. I like it that the network is treating it like a regular sitcom not an “event.” But I have to agree with what you say here about Baber and Layla. They are, without a doubt, my favorites on the show. Baber has even taught me to look kindly on “uncles.”

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