Palestinian Youth Media and the Pedagogies of Estrangement

"Moving well beyond easy celebrations of youthful creativity, Asthana and Havandjian return questions about the social and political purpose of young people's media-making to the top of the agenda. This is a riveting and inspiring analysis from the front line, but it is also informed by a clear understanding of the wider social, cultural and educational issues at stake. It should be compulsory reading for media educators, and for those with a broader interest in global childhoods." - David Buckingham, Professor, Loughborough University, UK

"With implications far beyond the plight of refugees in Palestine and minorities in Israel, this book opens a window on how dispossessed and minority youth both learn and teach with the new tools of social discourse. This rare and rigorous study challenges the idea that the world's ever-growing refugee population, many of them young, aren't integrally connected to the rest of us. Indeed this book makes clear that we can share their anguish and their aspirations thanks to social media and even older forms like graffiti." - Everette E. Dennis, Dean and CEO, Northwestern University in Qatar

"Asthana's review of the literature of global youth media is current, coherent, complete, and conceptually sound. I am especially intrigued as the way he distinguishes between representation and non-representational approaches to youth media. Palestinian Youth Media and the Pedagogies of Estrangement gives readers a great sense of the 'here-and-now' of youth media organizations in Palestine and problematizes the institutional and cultural mediations within which they are located. We see the power of self-expression, empowerment and youth voice without it being overtly celebratory. We learn about the tensions that emerge as youth comment on and critique aspects of their culture." - Renee Hobbs, Professor, Communication Studies, University of Rhode Island, USA