Abstract
This chapter explores the politicization of transnationally mass- mediated popular culture in the Arab world. Focusing on two genres that have been particularly popular and controversial during the last decade—(1) reality television and (2) music video—it examines the politics-entertainment nexus. In this chapter, I draw on a completed study of reality television and Arab politics (Kraidy 2010) and an ongoing project about the political and socio-cultural controversies surrounding music videos. Located at the juncture of two major projects, the chapter aims to offer a preliminary comparative framework of the politicization of the two genres mentioned above—notably, the section on music videos will be more exploratory than my discussion of reality television. In both cases, my approach is to combine a study of the primary texts themselves with an analysis of the discourses that they have generated in the pan-Arab public sphere.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
