Culture
Album review: Mashrou’ Leila’s ‘El Hal Romancy’
September 7, 2011
Album review: Mashrou’ Leila’s ‘El Hal Romancy’
At first glance, there seems to be much in common between Beirut’s Mashrou’ Leila and Cairo’s Wust el-Balad - they’re…
‘Al-Hassan and al-Hussein’ TV drama: An orthodox narrative in a progressive form
September 6, 2011
‘Al-Hassan and al-Hussein’ TV drama: An orthodox narrative in a progressive form
The representation of the life story of al-Hassan and al-Hussein, Prophet Mohamed’s grandsons and sons of his cousin and son-in-law,…
In the Presence of Absence: Mahmoud Darwish’s farewell to language
September 5, 2011
In the Presence of Absence: Mahmoud Darwish’s farewell to language
Mahmoud Darwish wrote “In the Presence of Absence” near the end of his complex, rich, and engaged life. Palestine’s national…
The literalism of album artwork in Egypt
September 4, 2011
The literalism of album artwork in Egypt
It happens with such regularity, you’d think there was a law mandating it: Any Egyptian musician releasing a record will,…
Foreign missions to resume excavations in Egypt
September 3, 2011
Foreign missions to resume excavations in Egypt
Starting early September, after the end of the eid holiday, 75 archaeological missions will resume excavation projects in Egypt, announced…
Mohamed Fairouz makes way for more inclusive classical music
September 2, 2011
Mohamed Fairouz makes way for more inclusive classical music
A young Arab-American composer is putting some thick cracks in a Western-establishment perspective that has for decades divided traditional music…
The Eid films: Disappointment persists
September 1, 2011
The Eid films: Disappointment persists
It’s that time of the year again, when Hell’s septic tank overflows and all the horrible contents somehow seep onto…
‘The Second Book’: Life lessons in an unorthodox fashion
August 31, 2011
‘The Second Book’: Life lessons in an unorthodox fashion
Dar al-Shorouk recently published "Al-Kitab Al-Thany" (The Second Book) by writer and radio and TV host Ahmed al-Esseily. Offering reflections…
On an Eid anniversary, Mahfouz’s final gifts
August 30, 2011
On an Eid anniversary, Mahfouz’s final gifts
Nobody feels the joy of the Eid as much as children, and when we were children, we could hardly…
Biopics in the Arab world: History entangled with subjectivity
August 29, 2011
Biopics in the Arab world: History entangled with subjectivity
Two films about Egypt’s second president - “Nasser 56” (a 1996 Egyptian production) and “Gamal Abdel Nasser” (a 1999 Syrian…