Censorship and Society
This topic is placed into its own section largely so that it can be addressed without stereotypically coming to dominate the discussion of literature and the novel in the Middle East. Censorship does exist in the Middle East, especially along political and religious lines. (1.) That is not to say that this is the most important, or even a defining factor, in the novels of the region. Rakha notes that while some novels and pieces of literature are savaged in public by religious figures, the larger literature culture went largely unnoticed and unconsidered. (2.)
Censorship of literature is nevertheless a widespread phenomena in Middle Eastern societies, with the actual enforcement of it differing from country to country. (3.) Even children’s literature is not exempt, as Dünges relates in the publishing of Naif al- Mutawa’s magazine 99, which is sometimes available in English but not Arabic in Saudi Arabia. (1.) However, it is important to consider the society as a whole, and individual variations within that, rather than ascribe a view of censorship overwriting all. Writers find ways around all this, after all, by publishing outside of their home country in a more lenient neighboring Middle Eastern neighbor. (3.) Author Raja Alem spoke out against reducing authors to the generalizations of their gender and nationality. While these inform readings and provide a context to the tales, one cannot ignore the individual experiences that led the authors to where they are. (4.)
Censorship of literature is nevertheless a widespread phenomena in Middle Eastern societies, with the actual enforcement of it differing from country to country. (3.) Even children’s literature is not exempt, as Dünges relates in the publishing of Naif al- Mutawa’s magazine 99, which is sometimes available in English but not Arabic in Saudi Arabia. (1.) However, it is important to consider the society as a whole, and individual variations within that, rather than ascribe a view of censorship overwriting all. Writers find ways around all this, after all, by publishing outside of their home country in a more lenient neighboring Middle Eastern neighbor. (3.) Author Raja Alem spoke out against reducing authors to the generalizations of their gender and nationality. While these inform readings and provide a context to the tales, one cannot ignore the individual experiences that led the authors to where they are. (4.)
---
(Header Image) Egyptian Protestor. Image from: http://www.acus.org/content/egyptcensorpic4jpg
(1.) Dünges P. Arabic Children's Literature Today: Determining Factors and Tendencies
(2.) Rakha Y., In Extremis: Literature and Revolution in Contemporary Cairo
(3.) Schwartz, Lowell. Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World
(4.) Ware, V. THE NEW LITERARY FRONT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF READING ARABIC FICTION IN TRANSLATION
(Header Image) Egyptian Protestor. Image from: http://www.acus.org/content/egyptcensorpic4jpg
(1.) Dünges P. Arabic Children's Literature Today: Determining Factors and Tendencies
(2.) Rakha Y., In Extremis: Literature and Revolution in Contemporary Cairo
(3.) Schwartz, Lowell. Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World
(4.) Ware, V. THE NEW LITERARY FRONT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF READING ARABIC FICTION IN TRANSLATION