Page - 88 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 04/01

88 | Verena Eberhardt www.jrfm.eu 2018, 4/1, 81–99 blonde, let alone red haired, the con- struction of own and foreign identi- ties uses those visual representations to demarcate difference (figs. 3–5). Furthermore, names are important indicators of otherness: characters who represent foreign identities are named Levent, Bilal, Jadi or Mwan- gaza, whereas characters who repre- sent own identities bear names that are commonly used in Europe, like Emma, Jana, Louis or Lisa. In addition, the children’s books an- alysed here create otherness with re- curring role types. Those figures who represent own identities are charac- terised as particularly inquisitive. As a result, those characters who represent foreign identities explain their culture and religion in detail. “Huda bekommt ein Brüderchen” is a story about Huda, a little girl who represents own identi- ties, whereas her Syrian grandmother represents otherness. Huda does not speak Arabic very well and is not famil- iar with her grandmother’s customs and traditions. She explores otherness by asking a lot of questions: Grandma put some sweets on the ta- ble at home. She made tea and in the whole flat there was a magnificent scent. “What smells so differently?” Huda asks. “That is incense,” Grandma explains. “So that God gives us luck.” “What is that?” Huda asks curiously. “What does that say, Grandma?” Huda asks. “Noom al Hana” states grandma. “This is Arabic and means unhurried re- pose” grandma answers.22 22 Taufiq 2016, n. pag., emphasis in original. Fig. 3: The Jewish character Alma with her friend Lena in Halberstam/Späth (illust.), Lena feiert Pessach mit Alma (n. pag.) © Carlsen Verlag GmbH, Hamburg 2011. Fig. 4: The Tanzanian character Mwangaza in Ngonyani/Flad (illust.), Mwangaza und die Geschichte mit dem Zahn (n. pag.) © Carlsen Verlag GmbH, Hamburg 2011. Fig. 5: Levent and Tom in Halberstam/Tust (illust.), Levent und das Zuckerfest (n. pag.) © Carlsen Verlag GmbH, Hamburg 2011.