Publication
Title
Cosmopolitanism in Dubai's pan-Arab drama : case study of the '04' TV series
Author
Abstract
Pan-Arab dramas (Ar. al-drama al-ʿarabiyya al-mushtaraka) are a recent trend in Arabic drama series (Ar. musalsalat); they portray an ensemble of characters of various Arab nationalities in a transnational narrative setting. By considering transnational television a factor that contributes to the cosmopolitan imagination, and given the argument that Gulf cities are replacing historical Arab capitals and becoming ‘new centers’ for Arab culture, education and business, we explore the manner in which cosmopolitanism is represented in transnational Arab drama content. We do this through a case study of ‘04’ (Zero Four), a pan-Arab drama series that tells the story of four young expatriates of four Arab nationalities, experiencing their personal, professional and private lives in modern-day Dubai. We find that the boundaries of the cosmopolitan imagined community encompass the Arab world, resulting in a cosmopolitan imaginary that seems to favor Arabs over non-Arabs.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Middle East journal of culture & communication. - -
Publication
2020
ISSN
1873-9857
DOI
10.1163/18739865-01302002
Volume/pages
13 :2 (2020) , p. 190-209
ISI
000582440300005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
A Pan-Arab Cliffhanger: The Case of Transnational Arabic TV Series.
Publication type
Subject
Art 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
VABB-SHW
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.11.2020
Last edited 23.08.2024
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