Culture and Conflict in Palestine/Israel

This book explores the understudied aspects of culture in Palestine/Israel, such as Arab identity, Mizrahi identity, Israeli nationalism, the nightclub scene, Palestinian cinema, gender, ethnicity, and national identity, and the relations between aesthetic forms and symbolic power. The authors come from diverse disciplines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Over the past two decades, the scholarly study of culture as a politically contested sphere in Palestine/Israel has emerged as a well-established field of inquiry. However, this volume seeks to shed light on some understudied aspects of this complex terrain. Firstly, it delves into the intricate relations between Arab identity, Mizrahi identity, and Israeli nationalism, exploring how these identities intersect and shape the political landscape. Secondly, it examines the nightclub scene as a dynamic field of encounter, appropriation, and exclusion, where social hierarchies, cultural norms, and power dynamics are played out. Thirdly, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the institutional and political conditions that govern Palestinian cinema, examining the challenges and opportunities it faces in the context of Israeli occupation and resistance. Additionally, the book explores the implications of the intersectional relationship between gender, ethnicity, and national identity in the realm of popular culture, examining how these factors shape cultural expressions and societal attitudes. Lastly, it explores the concrete relations between particular aesthetic forms and symbolic power, investigating how art, music, and literature can be used as tools for resistance, empowerment, and cultural preservation.

The authors of this book come from diverse academic backgrounds, including anthropology, architecture, ethnomusicology, history, sociology, and political science. Their contributions offer a multi-faceted perspective on the study of culture in Palestine/Israel, drawing from a range of theoretical frameworks and empirical research.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Ethnic and Racial Studies, a leading journal in the field of ethnic and racial studies. This special issue sought to bring together scholars from different disciplines to explore the complex dynamics of culture, identity, and politics in the region.

In conclusion, this volume offers a valuable contribution to the field of cultural studies by exploring understudied aspects of the culture-politics nexus in Palestine/Israel. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it provides insights into the complex relationships between Arab identity, Mizrahi identity, Israeli nationalism, the nightclub scene, Palestinian cinema, gender, ethnicity, and national identity, and the aesthetic forms and symbolic power that shape these dynamics. The authors' diverse perspectives and empirical research make this book an essential read for scholars, researchers, and policymakers interested in understanding the complexities of the region.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032146386