Leaks, Hacks, and Scandals: Arab Culture in the Digital Age

Digital media is transforming Arab culture, literature, and politics, with activists leaking videos and exposing atrocities, and cultural production and political change enabled by digital technology. Tarek El-Ariss connects WikiLeaks to the Arabian Nights, Twitter to mystical revelation, cyberattacks to pre-Islamic tribal raids, and digital activism to the affective scene-making of Arab popular culture. He theorizes the rise of "the leaking subject" who reveals, contests, and writes through chaotic yet highly political means, investigating the digital consciousness, virality, and affective forms of knowledge that jolt and inform the public.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2018
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In recent years, Arab activists have taken a bold stance against authoritarian regimes, both on the streets and online. They have courageously leaked videos and exposed atrocities, advocating for political rights and challenging the status quo. Tarek El-Ariss, in his insightful book "Leaks, Hacks, and Scandals," explores the profound impact of digital media on Arab culture, literature, and politics.

El-Ariss situates these critiques of power within a pervasive culture of scandal and leaks, highlighting how cultural production and political change in the contemporary Arab world are enabled by digital technology yet emerge from traditional cultural models. He delves into the lives of a new generation of activists and authors from Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, connecting WikiLeaks to the Arabian Nights, Twitter to mystical revelation, cyberattacks to pre-Islamic tribal raids, and digital activism to the vibrant scene-making of Arab popular culture.

By shifting the epistemological and historical frameworks from the postcolonial condition to the digital condition, El-Ariss demonstrates how new media challenge the novel as the traditional vehicle for political consciousness and intellectual debate. He theorizes the rise of "the leaking subject," who reveals, contests, and writes through chaotic yet highly political means, exploring the digital consciousness, virality, and affective forms of knowledge that jolt and inform the public.

"Leaks, Hacks, and Scandals" offers a comprehensive exploration of the changing landscape of Arab modernity, known as the Nahda, in the digital age. It traces how concepts such as the nation, community, power, the intellectual, the author, and the novel are hacked and recoded through new modes of confrontation, circulation, and dissent. Through vivid anecdotes and analytical insights, El-Ariss provides a rich tapestry of how digital media has transformed the Arab world, empowering individuals and fostering a sense of collective resistance against oppressive regimes.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between technology, culture, and politics in the Arab world. It sheds light on the transformative power of digital media and offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for democracy, freedom, and social justice in the region.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691181936