The Role of Iraqi Ramadan Comedy Drama in Cultural Stereotyping among University Students(A Survey Study of Students at Al-Istansiriya University

Abstract

This study aims to explore the role of Iraqi Ramadan comedy dramas in shaping cultural perceptions among students at Al-Mustansiriya University. The research stems from the significance of this genre as a cultural and social influencer not merely as a source of entertainment and laughter. The importance of the study lies in the high viewership rates of these programs during Ramadan, making them particularly influential in shaping collective consciousness, especially among university youth. The research targeted undergraduate students in the morning program at Al-Mustansiriya University, selecting a purposive sample of 320 participants to represent the student population. As a descriptive study, the researcher employed the media survey method to analyze the habits, patterns, and motivations behind students' engagement with this type of programming. Findings revealed that the majority of participants ranked the show Hamidh Hilo 6 as their top favorite, followed by Kamamat Watan Plus in second place, and Qit Ahmar 5 in third. The results also indicated that the sample moderately agreed with the portrayal of gender stereotypes in Ramadan comedy dramas, with a relative weight of 67.82%, suggesting a neutral stance. Similarly, there was moderate agreement (64.28%) regarding the presence of regional (spatial, cultural, and social) stereotyping, also reflecting a neutral tendency in audience perception.