Representation of Islam and Muslims through the movie: A Prophet, according to the theory of Semiology of Roland Barthes

Islamophobia, as an inclusive discourse in the relationship between the West and the Islamic world plays a prominent role in shaping various processes which all arise from a particular basis that is projecting a frightening image of Islam. Due to the massive immigration of African Muslims to France especially after the World War II, this country has faced this topic more than other European countries. This study is considering the analytical representation of Islam and Muslims in French film of “A prophet”, directed by Jacques Audiard. Relying on Stewart Hall’s representation theory, Edward Said’s Orientalism approach and Islamophobia expressed by Saeed Reza Ameli, this research tries, according to five codes theory of Roland Barthes involved in narratives and Van Dijk's concept of ideological square, to consider the mentioned film. According to this approach, we try to answer the question about the state of representations in this, we try film. The five code of Barthes include the hermeneutic code, tacit code, symbolic code and validity and cultural actions. Primarily, by explaining the concepts, we try to discover the stereotypes showing Islamophobia aspect. Finally, we concluded that the film “A prophet” tried to induce Islamophobia, representing the negative aspects of Muslims.