Conf/CfP - Arabic Popular Culture, 5-6 May 2017, Bamberg University, Germany

05/06 May 2017

For around two decades, Arabic “popular culture” has been observed in Arabic Studies research. Results of these rst discussions of the Arabic entertainment sector and its products are basically inventory-takings of modern Arabic cinema, of Arabic television shows or of Arabic music production from pop to rap.

More detailed research examines oftentimes crosslinks between these forms of art, their artifacts and socio-political problems in the region. Here, religious con icts play a central role. In the course of the so-called “Arabic Spring”, social media like Facebook or YouTube and its use by young people engaged in the cultural sector came into the focus of this still young branch of research.

Language and ways of distribution resemble classic Arabic entertainment. However, content bears witness of socio-political explosiveness and engagement which is contrary to most European and US concepts of “pop”.

Problems of aesthetics played only a minor role. One example for this is the neglect of contemporary Arabic ction and its diverse links to Arabic and global pop culture.

The colloquium aims at building a network of young academics who are working on di erent aspects of Arabic popular culture. It wants to provide a frame to relate developments in di erent media and formats to each other and to discuss border-crossing and regional trends. New forms of Arabic “pop” as well as the use of terminology are to be discussed. Of special interest is the relation between pop cultural products and problems of art and literary theory.

Application

The languages of discussion are German, English and Arabic.
Please send your abstracts (200 words) until March 20 to peter.konerding@uni-bamberg.de

The length of your presentation should not exceed 15 minutes. Each presentation is followed by a discussion of 15 minutes each.

No fee of participation will be charged.

For more information click "Further official information" below.