ALIENS IN AMERICA
CONSIDERING POST-9/11 TENSIONS THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE
A Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World
Ramadan Iftar Premiere featuring:

Moses Port
Series Co-Creator

David Guarascio
Series Co-Creator

Omar Amanat
Film Financier and Philanthropist

Salman Ahmad
Filmmaker and Musician, Junoon

Moderated by:

Cynthia P. Schneider
Arts and Culture Coordinator

Monday, October 1, 2007
7:00 PM, The Fairmont Hotel
2401 M Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20037

Dear Colleague,

Six years after 9/11, Muslims in the United States still feel a keen sense of alienation from mainstream America and view themselves as the victims of negative stereotypes in popular culture. Tackling these issues head-on, television screenwriters Moses Port and David Guarascio (of hit shows Just Shoot Me and Mad About You) have created a daring new comedy on the CW channel, Aliens in America. The story of Raja, a young Pakistani exchange student who comes to live with his unsuspecting host family in Wisconsin, has received widespread critical acclaim for its willingness to confront American prejudices about Islam and Muslims.

On October 1, the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, in partnership with CBS Paramount Television, will host a special Ramadan iftar reception followed by the premiere screening of Aliens in America. After the screening will be a panel discussion on both the challenges and potential power of popular culture – specifically humor – to defuse negative stereotypes and increase understanding across cultures. Panelists include series creators Moses Port and David Guarascio, as well as philanthropist and film financier Omar Amanat, and musician and filmmaker Salman Ahmad. Cynthia P. Schneider, Arts and Culture Coordinator, will moderate. Following the discussion, panelists will take audience questions .

The iftar, screening and discussion will take place in the Fairmont Hotel at 2401 M Street, NW in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 1, 2007, at 7:00 p.m .

We very much hope you will join us for what promises to be a lively and important evening.

Sincerely,

Martin Indyk                                       
Director, Saban Center for
Middle East Policy

Stephen R. Grand

Director, Project on U.S.
Relations with the Islamic World

Space is limited. Please RSVP to the Saban Center at 202-797-2989, or to nmalhotra@brookings.edu no later than Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at 5:00 p.m.