THE REPRESENTATION OF PERSIANS AS VILLAINS IN A MOVIE SCRIPT ‘300’

This paper investigates the ways the Persians characters as villains are represented in the movie ‘300’. Furthermore, the study also analyzes the relation of ‘300’ movie with the current socio-political issue between the United States and Iran. This study uses Edward Said’s (1978) Orientalism as theoretical framework and supported by other theory from Davis, Mules and Thwaites’ (1994) character and characterization. In addition, there is also Brian’s (2005) Film and Politics in America to analyze the ‘300’ and its relation to the socio-political issue between the U.S. and Iran. The study finds that Persians are characterized as inferior, evil, savage, bestial, and corrupt to strengthen their positions as villains in the movie. Based on an Orientalist perspective, those negative characteristics are considered as pejorative stereotypes. Meanwhile, with regard to the relation of ‘300’ movie with the current socio-political issue between the U.S. and Iran, it seems apparent that the movie is used as the U.S. propaganda based on some evidences, namely the negative representation of Persians as villains, the movie producer, and the movie release. All the findings above indicate that a film can be used as a tool for propaganda