Yeah. I mean Edward Said, right? I also recall people noting that the Arab villainry really was upped as the Cold War stalled out... that a lot of villains used to be Russian, but that these have now been replaced by Arabs. It's definitely all about othering. If we're used to seeing these bad people on screen, then it must be okay to bomb them, y/y?

In a related topic, Sheridan Prasso's The Asian Mystique (http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Mystique-Dragon-Ladies-Fantasies/dp/1586483943/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208272209&sr=8-2) (which somehow I feel I've mentioned before??) deals with this othering issue, only all Asian-style. Although I think she mentions the Arab thing, also. Though how can you not, with Orientalism being the seminal work in the field?