Shereen El Feki: Pop culture in the Arab world

Summary

In her TED talk, Shereen El Feki introduces Barbie and her Arab counterpart, Fulla, to explore the intersection of Western and Islamic cultures. She highlights two examples: 4Shbab, an 'Islamic MTV' aimed at inspiring youth through music videos, and 'The 99,' a comic series featuring Islamic superheroes embodying the attributes of Allah. El Feki argues against the idea of a 'clash of civilizations,' instead proposing a 'mesh of civilizations' where different cultures interweave, drawing on Islam's tradition of adapting and learning from others.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The speaker uses Barbie to break the ice, introducing her as a 50-year-old icon.
• 🧕 The speaker introduces Fulla, the Arab world's version of Barbie, symbolizing cultural differences.
• 🌍 The idea of a clash of civilizations is challenged, emphasizing cultural interactions instead.
• 📺 4Shbab is an Arab TV channel similar to MTV, aiming to inspire youth through Islamic values.
• 🎶 4Shbab uses music videos to promote a kinder, gentler face of Islam, avoiding extremes.
• 👩‍🎤 Haifa Wehbe, a Lebanese pop star, represents the contrast between mainstream Arab media and 4Shbab.
• 🦸‍♂️ The 99 are Islamic superheroes created by Naif Al Mutawa, embodying the 99 attributes of Allah.
• 🌐 The 99 aims to combat negative stereotypes of Islam, offering positive role models for children.
• 🎢 The 99 has expanded beyond comics into theme parks and animated series, collaborating with Western superheroes.
• 🤝 The speaker advocates for a mesh of civilizations, where different cultures learn and adapt from each other, rather than clashing.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the speaker's presentation at TED?

The primary purpose of the speaker's presentation is to challenge the notion of a clash of civilizations by demonstrating how Western innovations are being adapted into forms that are neither conventionally Western nor traditionally Islamic.

Why does the speaker introduce Barbie and Fulla at the beginning of the talk?

The speaker introduces Barbie and Fulla to illustrate the perceived cultural divide between Western and Islamic worlds, and to set the stage for discussing how these cultures intersect and influence each other.

What is 4Shbab, and what is its mission?

4Shbab is a new Arab TV channel dubbed 'Islamic MTV,' created by Egyptian TV producer Ahmed Abu Haïba. Its mission is to inspire young people to lead better lives by using music videos that present a kinder, gentler face of Islam.

How does 4Shbab differ from existing Arab music channels?

Unlike existing Arab music channels, which often feature provocative content, 4Shbab focuses on promoting Islamic values through music videos without resorting to fire and brimstone messaging.

Who created 'The 99,' and what was the motivation behind it?

'The 99' was created by Kuwaiti psychologist Naif Al Mutawa. His motivation was to rescue Islam from negative images of intolerance by creating child-friendly superheroes that embody the 99 attributes of Allah.

What are some of the powers of the characters in 'The 99'?

The characters in 'The 99' have powers based on the attributes of Allah. For example, Noora can see the good and bad in everyone, and Jami has the ability to create fantastic inventions.

How has 'The 99' expanded beyond just being a comic book?

'The 99' has expanded into a theme park and has an animated series in the works. Additionally, by the following year, characters from 'The 99' are expected to team up with famous Western superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman.

What does the speaker mean by the term 'mesh of civilizations'?

The speaker uses the term 'mesh of civilizations' to describe the intertwining and blending of different cultural elements, as opposed to a clash of civilizations, where cultures are seen as completely separate and conflicting.

How does the speaker view the relationship between Islam and other civilizations throughout history?

The speaker views Islam as having a long tradition of borrowing and adapting from other civilizations, both ancient and modern, which aligns with the Quran's encouragement to learn from one another.

What Quranic verse does the speaker reference, and why?

The speaker references the Quranic verse, 'We made you into nations and tribes, so that you could learn from one another,' to emphasize the idea that cultural exchange and learning from others are encouraged in Islam.