Transnational Arab Stardom: Glamour, Performance and Politics

This collection offers contextual analyses of off-screen representation and close textual analyses of films and star personas, exploring Arab stardom as text and context of Arab cinema. It examines how stars are viewed and received in different cultural contexts, using audience reception studies. It is the first study dedicated to stardom on the Arab screen, structured chronologically and thematically, and drawing on feminist, performance, film, media, sound, material culture, queer star, and celebrity studies, and social media studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Arab cinema has often been discussed in terms of political representation and independent art film, but rarely in terms of stardom, glamour, performance, or masquerade. Aside from a few individual studies on female stardom or aspects of Arab masculinity, no major English-language study on Arab stardom exists, and collections on transnational stars or world cinema often neglect to include Arab performers. This new book seeks to address this gap by providing the first study dedicated entirely to stardom on the Arab screen.

Structured chronologically and thematically, this collection highlights and explores Arab film, screen, and music stars through a transnational and interdisciplinary set of contributions that draw on feminist, performance, and film theories, media studies, sound studies, material culture, queer star and celebrity studies, and social media studies.

The book begins with a historical overview of Arab cinema, tracing its development from the early 20th century to the present day. It then examines the various factors that have contributed to the rise of Arab stardom, including the emergence of new media, the globalization of culture, and the political and social changes that have taken place in the region.

The book then moves on to a close textual analysis of films and star personas, exploring the ways in which Arab stars are represented and constructed in the media. It examines the various genres of Arab cinema, including drama, comedy, and action, and the ways in which Arab stars have contributed to the development of these genres.

The book also looks at how stars are viewed and received in different cultural contexts, both within and outside of the Arabic-speaking world. It examines the ways in which Arab stars are marketed and promoted, and the ways in which they are perceived by audiences.

In addition to its textual analysis, the book also includes a series of interviews with Arab stars and industry professionals, which provide insights into the experiences of Arab stars and the challenges that they face in the industry.

Overall, the book provides a comprehensive and insightful study of Arab stardom on the Arab screen, and it will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone who is interested in the cultural and social significance of Arab cinema.

Arab cinema has often been discussed in terms of political representation and independent art film, but rarely in terms of stardom, glamour, performance, or masquerade. Aside from a few individual studies on female stardom or aspects of Arab masculinity, no major English-language study on Arab stardom exists, and collections on transnational stars or world cinema often neglect to include Arab performers. This new book seeks to address this gap by providing the first study dedicated entirely to stardom on the Arab screen.

Structured chronologically and thematically, this collection highlights and explores Arab film, screen, and music stars through a transnational and interdisciplinary set of contributions that draw on feminist, performance, and film theories, media studies, sound studies, material culture, queer star and celebrity studies, and social media studies.

The book begins with a historical overview of Arab cinema, tracing its development from the early 20th century to the present day. It then examines the various factors that have contributed to the rise of Arab stardom, including the emergence of new media, the globalization of culture, and the political and social changes that have taken place in the region.

The book then moves on to a close textual analysis of films and star personas, exploring the ways in which Arab stars are represented and constructed in the media. It examines the various genres of Arab cinema, including drama, comedy, and action, and the ways in which Arab stars have contributed to the development of these genres.

The book also looks at how stars are viewed and received in different cultural contexts, both within and outside of the Arabic-speaking world. It examines the ways in which Arab stars are marketed and promoted, and the ways in which they are perceived by audiences.

In addition to its textual analysis, the book also includes a series of interviews with Arab stars and industry professionals, which provide insights into the experiences of Arab stars and the challenges that they face in the industry.

Overall, the book provides a comprehensive and insightful study of Arab stardom on the Arab screen, and it will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone who is interested in the cultural and social significance of Arab cinema.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501393228