If you're an American and don't know what it's like to have your country and culture reduced to about three wildly inaccurate stereotypes, I think the Top Gear USA Special episode may enlighten you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNrybXt-_J0&list=PLWpVvJ8o7w...
That said, this kind of thing doesn't come from a position of racism or malice. The writers of these films have a story they want to tell, and taking the time to portray a given country accurately might very well hinder that storytelling.
On a somewhat related note, re-watching one of my favourite childhood TV shows (Mission: Impossible, the original series) now gives me several jaw-drop moments per episode -- each one involves a team illegally entering another country and committing a series of crimes or fraudulent activities, frequently to free someone who was caught doing the same activities earlier, often against various generals, leaders and shieks belonging to a relatively narrow set of ethnic stereotypes. 1960-70's sensibilities did mean that storytelling was much less of a minefiled than it is today, but it still gives me pause.
> 1960-70's sensibilities
I'd argue there was more to that.
The political climate needed the public to be aligned with meddling a lot with foreign countries (and the Vietnam war was still happening), and passing it as something that isn't just happening, but needs to be done.
The more modern equivalent would be 24h (the tv series), which basically shoved to the public the notion that torturing and going extra-legal ways was something heroes had to do.
Nationalism wrapped in sentimentality..
"A lot of Libyans today are still surprised to discover there were Amazigh, Tuareg and Tabu peoples in Libya before 2011."
I'm not sure knowing about Tuaregs is inherently more important than Bruce Lee if they're so marginal to your local life that you don't even know they exist. Okay, you and them have a common government.. but that's some artificial construct that's distant and abstract - there are more important things in life.
Enjoy the culture you want to enjoy and find stimulating/enriching.
I'm Californian. I don't know anything about the people and life in say.. South Dakota. I have no idea what their capital is. I have zero conception of the people there.
And I have zero interest.
I rather learn about life in Korea or Uzbekistan. I'm pretty confident I'm going to find it more interesting and stimulating. I don't think it's some giant cultural shame the US doesn't present compelling representations of South Dakotans.
>And I have zero interest.
That's you.
>I'm Californian. I don't know anything about the people and life in say.. South Dakota. I have no idea what their capital is. I have zero conception of the people there.
I'd argue it's like you not knowing there's native americans in your state and why they might be there.
It's scary and sad how well this works.
Americans