A workshop led by Cal Margulis.
Wednesday, November 16, 201611:30 AM - 1:00 PM
11372 Bunche
The 1870s are widely understood to be a period of great political, economic, and social change in Egypt. When the decade began, Egypt had a strong central government at the peak of power and influence, but by 1880 the economy was in collapse, the government was a client of the British Empire, and the state itself was sundered by civil war. When historians of Egypt look to explain the development of nationalism, race, and the proper role of the state, they usually point to striking political changes such as these. But the 1870s saw a revolution in public performance, as well, and the cultural changes that took place in that field also had a great impact on the political development of Egypt. By looking at the comedic play Abu Raida al-Barbari, written by the Egyptian nationalist Yaʿqūb Ṣannūʿa between 1870 and 1872, I will highlight some of the most prominent of these cultural shifts, demonstrate some of their political effects, and show how they ultimately laid the foundation for the theater and film culture of the twentieth century.
Sponsor(s): Program on Central Asia