Why Arabs Need to Drop Everything and Start Watching ‘Skam’ Right Now
What is Skam? Why are some of your friends mentioning it on Social Media? Why is it that every time you go on Tumblr people are reblogging GIFs of Norwegian teenagers? Well, allow me to clear up your confusion.
Skam is your new favorite TV show. Okay wait, I know how it sounds because everyone is always screaming, “WATCH BREAKING BAD/THE WIRE/GAME OF THRONES.” I’m sorry because I’m going to have to order you to watch another show.
Skam, which translates to “shame” in English, is a Norwegian teen drama that has taken over the Internet. The show follows a group of teenagers who go to the Hartvig Nissen School in Oslo. Much like Skins, the show focuses on a different central character, with the narrative sticking very close to his or her perspective; except the point of views don’t change every episode, but every season.
I think it’s very important for Arabs and Muslims to watch Skam, not because it’s great f***ing television, but because of the way they portray Muslims — or should I say Sana. She is a recurring character in the first, second and third season of Skam, and the main character of the fourth and last season. The way Sana is shown on the show is quite refreshing, as it’s very rare to see Western drama embody what it truly means to be Arab, Muslim or hijabi without making the character, well, look like a terrorist. Here’s how:
Sana knows exactly what being Muslim is truly about
She’s the queen of making jokes
As well as the queen of throwing shade
The only bombs she drops are the truth
Did we mention truth bombs?
She’s not afraid to admit she’s wrong
When she was confronted by Isaak (her gay friend) about how her religion ‘supposedly’ perceives homosexuals, she replied with:
When she’s asked if she ever thinks about drinking and hooking up, she answers honestly by saying “yes” and:
Basically, Sana is a goddamn queen and y’all need to watch Skam pronto and bow down to her
