Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions

How is the noncitizen subaltern Other portrayed in Gulf cultural productions? While sociological studies argue that Gulf states have defined a national narrative centered on a purely Arab-Islamic identity excluding the Persian, African and South Asian heritage, the way in which cultural productions...

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Main Author: Frédéric Lagrange
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre Français d’Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa
Series:Arabian Humanities
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/cy/11400
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author Frédéric Lagrange
author_facet Frédéric Lagrange
author_sort Frédéric Lagrange
collection DOAJ
description How is the noncitizen subaltern Other portrayed in Gulf cultural productions? While sociological studies argue that Gulf states have defined a national narrative centered on a purely Arab-Islamic identity excluding the Persian, African and South Asian heritage, the way in which cultural productions of the region address the citizen vs. non-citizen divide, the local vs. foreign hierarchy and implicitly question the construction of identity and the position of foreigners in the region is more nuanced. National identity and otherness are more perceived as a continuum than air-tight categories. These “mixed signals” sent by Gulf region cultural productions are analyzed here through their portrayal of the historical relationships between the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent and the way language reflects porosity. The article finally examines the tight rope walked by cultural productions between the need to “discipline the Khaleeji self” and root out racism toward South Asians, and the temptation to “discipline the other” so as to render him suitable for the type of modernity Gulf states and societies aspire to.
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spelling doaj.art-a89b77516bcc4e708a8ecb9bd6d0429c2024-04-04T09:31:50ZengCentre Français d’Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de SanaaArabian Humanities2308-61221810.4000/cy.11400Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural ProductionsFrédéric LagrangeHow is the noncitizen subaltern Other portrayed in Gulf cultural productions? While sociological studies argue that Gulf states have defined a national narrative centered on a purely Arab-Islamic identity excluding the Persian, African and South Asian heritage, the way in which cultural productions of the region address the citizen vs. non-citizen divide, the local vs. foreign hierarchy and implicitly question the construction of identity and the position of foreigners in the region is more nuanced. National identity and otherness are more perceived as a continuum than air-tight categories. These “mixed signals” sent by Gulf region cultural productions are analyzed here through their portrayal of the historical relationships between the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent and the way language reflects porosity. The article finally examines the tight rope walked by cultural productions between the need to “discipline the Khaleeji self” and root out racism toward South Asians, and the temptation to “discipline the other” so as to render him suitable for the type of modernity Gulf states and societies aspire to.https://journals.openedition.org/cy/1140021st centuryGulf20th centurySouth Asians in the Gulfimmigrant workforce in the Gulftelevision
spellingShingle Frédéric Lagrange
Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
Arabian Humanities
21st century
Gulf
20th century
South Asians in the Gulf
immigrant workforce in the Gulf
television
title Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
title_full Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
title_fullStr Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
title_full_unstemmed Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
title_short Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
title_sort ma fi gerger ziyada the south asian character in gulf cultural productions
topic 21st century
Gulf
20th century
South Asians in the Gulf
immigrant workforce in the Gulf
television
url https://journals.openedition.org/cy/11400
work_keys_str_mv AT fredericlagrange mafigergerziyadathesouthasiancharacteringulfculturalproductions