CHANGES IN EGYPTIAN SOCIETY AS SEEN TRHOUGH EGYPTIAN FILMS

Lecture by YOUSRY MANSOUR
With screening of scenes from various Egyptian Movies

Organised by Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore

Date: Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Time: 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm
Venue: Conference Room
Middle East Institute
National University of Singapore
Bukit Timah Campus

Egypt has undergone immense changes over the last fifty years, and in the last three decades alone, the country’s social and political profile has changed beyond all recognition. Today, Egypt has 26 political parties and over 500 licensed newspapers, when thirty years ago, it had only three parties and less than twenty licensed newspapers. With over 70 million people, Egypt is the largest Arab country; it is correct to say that there is one Egyptian among every four Arabs in the world.

In the early twentieth century, the Egyptian Entrepreneurs realized their ambitions in establishing a strong, independent national cinema industry in Egypt. It was partly because of Egypt’s head start in the cinema industry, it led to the distribution of Egyptian films all over the Arab region and Middle East. With its films being watched in every Arab town and city, the Egyptians confirmed their lead not only in the region’s culture and the way Arabic language should be spoken, but also in its politics.

The topics which the films usually deal with are diverse and reflect the increased and deeper contact of the filmmaker with life. A filmmaker is an author who looks deeply into his world, cultivating a sense of reflection that are expressed on the screen, and his tools are not only limited to a pen, but a camera, a film, lights, sound, visual effects and actors. In principle, a filmmaker is an author who recreates the world as he knows it. The Egyptian cinema is no different, or at least in many of its films, it shows Egyptian society struggling with its challenges.
The Egyptian Cinema denotes the protracted development of an indigenous film practice; it informs and is informed by complex cultural continuities, interruptions and transformations. Furthermore, Egyptian Cinema explores variety of social and political trends that are of major relevance to different Arab and Muslim societies. And despite its recent difficulties continues to be among the most popular indigenous cinemas in the world today.
As the world grapples to come to grips with Arab and Muslim cultures in a number of ways, the study of Egyptian cinema stands as an effective tool for understanding and assessing issues of great impact on one of the Arab World's most intense country of political and ideological apprehensions.
This study maps out key thematic elements mainly informed by current social, political and cultural developments that have taken place over the last two decades in the "Middle East," it is equally augmented by persistent ideological and intellectual anxieties that have dominated the Arab world since the early 1800s.
Through this study, we will also attempt to explore the historical contexts within which these thematic elements have been emerging. Naturally, the bibliographic nature of this endeavor calls for temporal and regional breadth, but, as a result, it also risks leading to exclusions and makes it difficult to engage each film or theme in detail. Nevertheless, allowing for such breadth is unavoidable for appreciating the coherency and significance of a general body of film which was initially sporadic in its focus yet has recently become identifiable as part of a dynamic movement within the Egyptian cinema.
Equally as important and given the near absent familiarity of many non-Arab readers with Egyptian cinema in general--let alone with specific time-frames of its development--an overview of the subject facilitates further reading and research on this complex area of investigation. I have avoided extremely specialized Film Studies terminology and methods of analysis and have chosen an approach, which would be useful and accessible for both film and cultural studies scholars as well as social sciences, political and humanities researchers.
In this study, we will look into some of these themes that have been reflected through the Egyptian films in recent years. These themes are:

Ü Religion
Ü Homosexuality
Ü Corruption
In the first section, I provide a general historical framework for the study of Egyptian Cinema. This section contextualizes the emergence of this cinema as part of a modernist continuum within the struggle for Egyptian national self-determination. However, I begin with a brief overview of the themes associated with the notion of modernity as approached by Arab intellectuals as far back as the mid to late 1800s during what is referred to as the period of Renaissance (an-Nahda). I also lay out the general context within which the Egyptian Cinema incorporates various modernist themes and stylistic strategies and how they, on the one hand, complement propositions initiated during an-Nahda period, while on the other, provide a basis for contemporary rejuvenation of the struggle for national self-determination.
The remaining sections deal separately with these various themes, focusing on how Egyptian films tackle the rise of populist religious fundamentalism, issues of the recent phenomena od living in slums areas around the Egyptian capital and other big cities, the notions of viollence practiced within the society by the authorities as well as by its people, trends of corruption and homosexual liberation. Finally, the last section (before the conclusion) demonstrates how the New Egyptian Cinema increasingly articulates modernist plot structures and texts; it explores this cinema's employment of self-reflexive strategies in the construction of cinematic narratives.
This presentation aims to be an introduction for many of the political and cultural issues raging in Egyptian society today.

Many works that cover these issues are either focused on one specific issue or extremely specialized, or they are too vague and lack up-to-date details. There are for example; studies of Egyptian cinema, academic and journalistic works on Egypt’s politics and a number of general anthropological and sociological works.

Here, I hope to put a bit of politics into culture and the culture into politics, in an attempt to present Egypt as the Egyptians see it.



Yousry E. Mansour
Researcher, Writer and Filmmaker
Singapore
Cell phone: +6592740273
Email: yousrysg@gmail.com

UNDERSTANDING THE ARABS

THE ROAD TO ARABIA
POLITICAL & SOCIAL CULTURE





Understanding The Arabs


الطريق إلى بلاد العرب
برنامج تعليمي في الثقافة الإجتماعية و السياسية


فهم العقل العربي



إعداد و تدريس
يسري السيد منصور

YOUSRY ELSAYED MANSOUR
yousrysg@gmail.com
Mobile: 92740273

سنغافورة
2008

COURSE OUTLINES

Much ink has been spilled in recent years about the Middle East and the Arab people. At the same time, no other region has been as misunderstood, nor framed in so many clichés and mistakenly held beliefs. In this much-needed and enlightening Educational Program, we will try to debunk many of the most commonly misconstrued "facts" concerning the Middle East--in the political, cultural, social, and historical spheres. In a straightforward and simple way that illuminates the issues without compromising their underlying complexities we will get to the core of each matter. The Arab identity, The Arab World verses the Middle East, The Arab tribes and royal families, The formation of the Arab countries, ethnic and religious minorities in the Arab countries, diversity of the region, the Arabs speaking one language, the various governments and their structures, misconceptions about the Arabs, prominent Arab culture, business negotiations with Arabs and other significant milestones in modern Arab World history and culture come under scrutiny here, with conclusions that will surprise and enlighten many for going so persuasively against the grain of commonly held (mis) perceptions.

Our aim is to provide a better understanding of the Arabs for those who are interested in the study of Middle East as an academic subject. Or for those working with Arabs, whether are going to be stationed in an Arab country for short or long periods. Or even for those who intend to do business with Arabs through their office in Singapore or by traveling into Arab countries more frequently.

It is of utmost importance to learn about the Arab people, culture and history. The more you get to know the culture, the more your interest will be aroused, and the more motivation you will have to proceed with your work and achieve better results.

As the course aims to introduce the culture and social life in an Arab society, it will involve ‘non-language’ signs, which are equally important in communicating and building bridges between different cultures. This course covers the unspoken rules to follow, to help you avoid making culture and social mistakes when you are meeting people from Arab countries or when you speak to a native Arabic speaking person. It also, includes listening to Arab songs and music, watching Arab movies and TV shows, reading of daily Arab press and their coverage of different events, and readings of famous Arab literature.


The COURSE OUTLINES (in short):-

· The Arab World verses The Middle East/The Near East
· A Brief History of the Arab World
· The different Arab Countries
· Tribes & Ruling families in Arab countries
· Ethnic and Religious minorities in Arab countries
· State structures, Civil Society, Legal and Financial Systems
· Secularism and Religions in Arab countries
· Social and Political tension in the Arab World
· The question of Reform in the Arab World
· Challenges of Globalization in the Arab World
· Illusion of Progress in the Arab World
· The image of the Arab world through films, literature and music
· Appreciation of the diversity of the Arab cuisines
· Learn non-verbal signs in an Arab society
· Learn the unspoken rules of BEHAVIOR in business and social life
· Business Negotiations
· Diversity of spoken Arabic Language
· Learning simple phrases in Arabic language
· Learn some important Arabic Proverbs


COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this Course, students will be able to:

I. Know the History, Geography and Social structure of the various Arab countries
II. Understand the various government systems and policy rules in Arab countries
III. Understand the rules of Personal Behavior in Arab society
IV. Understand the rules of Business Behavior in Arab country
V. To say simple Arabic words and phrases
VI. Appreciate Arab culture, music and arts


COURSE REQUIREMENT
(Who can attend this course?):

This course is designed for English-speaking adults who may BE INTERESTED IN MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURE STUDIES.


COURSE DURATION: 150 Hours


THE ROAD TO ARABIA
UNDERSTANDING THE ARABS



CONTENTS

Lesson 1 The Arab World verses The Middle East/The Near East
Who are the Arabs?
A Brief History and Geography
The Wrong Perceptions
(Map of Middle East), Grouping Arabs
Map of Arab countries
The League of Arab States,

Lesson 2 The Arab World verses The Middle East/The Near East
Modern History of the Arab Countries
Knowing the Arab countries
Knowing the ruling families
Knowing important figures

Lesson 3 Ethnic and Religious Minorities
Discovering the Minorities
Shiites
Kurds
Marionettes
Copts
Nubians
Baha’ais
Bedouins
Africans
Berber

Lesson 4 State Structures
Executive System
Legislative System
Judicial System
Administrative System
Civil Society System
Economic System
Financial System
Education & Research System
Press System

Lesson 5 Secularism and Religion in the Arab world
Media and Religion
Islam and Democracy
Islam and Social movements
Liberal Islam
Politicizing Islam
History of Islamic movements in the Arab world


Lesson 6 Social and Political tension in the Arab World
The Palestinian Question
Pan Arabism
Poverty and non-employment
Position of Woman

Lesson 7 The question of Reform in the Arab World
The Question of Arab wealth: Oil
Republicans & Monarchies: Questions of Political reform
The Question of good governance in Arab countries
The Question of Education

Lesson 8 Challenges of Globalization in the Arab World
Foreign aid and arms transfer
Remittances
Oil revenue
Trade
Capital Flows
The debt problem
Illusions of progress in the Arab world

Lesson 9 The image of the Arab world on the screen
Religion
Violence
Position of Woman
Nostalgia
Slums Areas
Homosexuality
Corruption
Going abroad

Lesson 10 Appreciation of the diversity of the Arab cuisines
Lebanese kitchen
Moroccan kitchen
Egyptian kitchen
Gulf kitchen

Lesson 11 Business Behaviour
Islam: The Code of Behaviour
The selection process
Qualities required
Differences
Employment of women
Preparing to move or visit an Arab Gulf country
Travel

Lesson 12 Business Behaviour
The Culture Shock
Confusion and Disorientation
The Arabs verses The Others
Driving habits
Acceptance of Gifts
Matters of `Face’
Personal Behavior
Body language
Shaking hands with Men and Women
Holding hands
Kissing: WHOM TO KISS?
Exposed flesh
The soles of feet
Beckoning with fingers
Crossed legs

Lesson 13 Business Behaviour
Don’t you know it’s Friday
Time and Timing
Time keeping
Centralism
VIP visits to Arab Gulf Country
Is it Time or Timing that matters?
Decision making: wait, wait, wait – Hurry, hurry, hurry
What happen to my Presentation?
The working hours
The working week
Don’t you know it’s a Friday?

Lesson 14 Business Behaviour
Language and Names
Need to study Arabic?
“Please” and “Thank you”
Names of the Arabs
Titles and salutation
Preparations
Business cards
Your translator not theirs
Be on Time
The dress code
Getting past the gate
Office Behavior
Entering and Exiting
When and How to talk Business
Presentational Techniques

Lesson 15 Business Behaviour
Business Behavior- the next steps
Business is a personal affair
Business and Pleasure
Access and Power
Agenda
“One-liners” Opportunity
Power of Silence

Lesson 16 Business Behaviour
Business Behavior-The Final steps
The Art of Bargaining
The meaning of “No”
Concluding the “Deal”
Contractual obligations v. Personal trust
Selection of an Agent or a Sponsor

Lesson 17 Business Behaviour
The Don’ts
Business Behaviour
Dinning with Arabs



Course Duration: 150 Hours
3 Sessions a week (Tue, Wed, Thu)
2 Hours per Session



For Enquiries
YOUSRY ELSAYED MANSOUR
yousrysg@gmail.com
Mobile: 92740273