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Transnational Arab Stardom

Glamour, Performance and Politics

Stefanie Van de Peer editor Dr Kaya Davies Hayon editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:22nd Feb '24

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Transnational Arab Stardom cover

A richly illustrated collection, structured along chronological, geographical and thematic lines, this book offers a significant new approach to Arab film studies and to star studies by expanding both fields through critical engagement by scholars from across the globe.

Building on the work of star studies scholars, this collection provides contextual analyses of off-screen representation, as well as close textual analyses of films and star personas, thereby offering an in-depth study of the Arab star as text and context of Arab cinema. Using the tools of audience reception studies, the collection will also look at how stars (of film, stage, screen and new media) are viewed and received in different cultural contexts, both within and outside of the Arabic-speaking world. Arab cinema is often 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 also 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.

Assembling groundbreaking research on Arab cinematic stars, this rich collection significantly enhances our comprehension of stars and their systems both within and beyond Arab cinema. Addressing a spectrum of issues and events that have influenced regional, transnational, and diasporic cinemas, this anthology thoroughly explores the contributions of Arab film stars across diverse cultural contexts and industries. The essays, encompassing not only mainstream Hollywood and Egyptian productions but also indie and arthouse cinema, offer a comprehensive view of their institutional, commercial, and political impacts. Its historical span, covering the early 20th century to the 21st, and inclusion of various genres like melodrama, musicals, and indie films, make it exceptionally wide-ranging. This collection rejects simplistic geographic and national categorizations, providing a transnational exploration of performance and reception amid geopolitical and ideological contexts. Guided by a robust introduction from the editors, the collection initiates discussions about the definition of the Arab world and its cinematic contributions. Throughout, it highlights the charisma, glamour, and talent of the stars, rendering it an essential read for both cinephiles and scholars. * Danielle Haque, Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA *

ISBN: 9781501393228

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

320 pages