Research Catalog

Title

Artists and the Arab uprisings / Lowell H. Schwartz, Dalia Dassa Kaye, Jeffrey Martini.

Author

Schwartz, Lowell

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2013.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Kaye, Dalia Dassa
• Martini, Jeffrey
• National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), sponsoring body.

Description

xix, 79 pages : illustrations; 23 cm

Summary

After decades of authoritarianism, a wave of political change and unrest began to sweep across the Middle East and North Africa in early 2011. Successful democratic transitions will not be easy and will require change in multiple spheres. This report focuses on one sphere whose power and importance is often underestimated: the artistic arena. Regional artists have the potential to positively contribute to democratic transition by shaping public debate in ways that support tolerance and nonviolence. But Arab artists are often squeezed between the bounds of acceptable discourse, set by rulers who fear freedom of expression and conservative societal groups that seek to control acceptable behavior. Although the Arab uprisings lifted some previous barriers to artistic expression, new limitations and challenges have emerged. Moreover, artists continue to lack sound funding models to support their work and face limited markets and distribution mechanisms. This research explores the challenges posed by both the state and society in the region, as well as the policy shifts that may be necessary to better support regional artists. It also suggests new strategies in which regional actors and nongovernmental organizations take leading roles in supporting these artists and their work.

Subject

• Since 2000
• Arts > History > Arab countries > 21st century
• Arts and society > Arab countries > History > 21st century
• Arab Spring, 2010-
• Art patronage > Arab countries > History > 21st century
• Government aid to the arts > Arab countries > History > 21st century

Genre/Form

History

Note

• "RR-271-SRF"--Page [4] of cover.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Machine generated contents note: ch. One Introduction -- The Cultural Dimension During the Cold War -- Recent Shifts in U.S. Middle East Policy -- Organization of This Report -- ch. Two Impact of the Arab Uprisings on Artistic Freedom: Egypt as a Case Study -- Legal Framework for Censorship -- Crowding Out Independent Voices -- Self-Censorship and Economic Incentives -- Early Signals from Egypt's New Authorities -- Egypt's Artist Community -- Portability of Egypt to Other Arab Countries -- Conclusion -- ch. Three U.S. Government Efforts to Support Artists in the Arab World -- Cultural Diplomacy -- Direct Support to Arab Artists -- U.S. Efforts to Highlight the Suppression of Artistic Freedom -- Conclusion -- ch. Four Nongovernmental Efforts to Engage and Support Artists in the Arab World -- Programs to Cultivate Artistic Talent and Build Regional Skills -- Mentor Programs and Artist Exchanges -- Regional Film Schools, Training, and Film Festivals -- Initiatives to Promote Arab Artists in the United States and Intercultural Understanding -- Regionally Themed Filmmaking for Global Audiences -- Private-Sector Models Designed to Help Fund Regional Artists -- Ongoing Challenges to Regional Artists -- ch. Five Conclusion: New Strategies for Supporting Regional Artists -- Recommendations for U.S. Government Efforts -- Recommendations for Nongovernmental Efforts -- A New Model to Support the Arts in the Middle East: A "Regional Endowment for Arab Arts"?.

ISBN

• 9780833080363 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 0833080369 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2013019795

OCLC

• 846787084
• SCSB-10090381

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library