Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America
This article explores the practice, widespread among the diasporic Syrians and North Africans of the nineteenth century, of pretending to be Arabs. “Arabs” were astute purveyors of Orientalism, both in entertainment and in trade. Syrian peddlers and merchants played the Orientalist card because they...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Mashriq & Mahjar |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/41 |
| _version_ | 1818474597932072960 |
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| author | Linda Jacobs |
| author_facet | Linda Jacobs |
| author_sort | Linda Jacobs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the practice, widespread among the diasporic Syrians and North Africans of the nineteenth century, of pretending to be Arabs. “Arabs” were astute purveyors of Orientalism, both in entertainment and in trade. Syrian peddlers and merchants played the Orientalist card because they knew it would help sell their goods. In this paper, I concentrate on those Arabs who made a living entertaining Americans in the nineteenth century by dressing up. Entertainment ran the gamut from stage performance like vaudeville and circus acts to high-toned lectures, with the former being dominated by North Africans and the latter by Syrian Christians. Orientalism sold, and every Arab knew it and exploited it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:38:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2f3a06e42e240339f0da4559306c125 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:38:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mashriq & Mahjar |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2f3a06e42e240339f0da4559306c1252022-12-22T02:11:46ZengNorth Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora StudiesMashriq & Mahjar2169-44352021-02-012210.24847/22i2014.41Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century AmericaLinda JacobsThis article explores the practice, widespread among the diasporic Syrians and North Africans of the nineteenth century, of pretending to be Arabs. “Arabs” were astute purveyors of Orientalism, both in entertainment and in trade. Syrian peddlers and merchants played the Orientalist card because they knew it would help sell their goods. In this paper, I concentrate on those Arabs who made a living entertaining Americans in the nineteenth century by dressing up. Entertainment ran the gamut from stage performance like vaudeville and circus acts to high-toned lectures, with the former being dominated by North Africans and the latter by Syrian Christians. Orientalism sold, and every Arab knew it and exploited it.https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/41Arab performersLebanese Immigrationnineteenth centurySyrian ImmigrationAmericaNorth African Immigration |
| spellingShingle | Linda Jacobs Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America Mashriq & Mahjar Arab performers Lebanese Immigration nineteenth century Syrian Immigration America North African Immigration |
| title | Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America |
| title_full | Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America |
| title_fullStr | Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America |
| title_short | Playing East: Arabs Perform in Nineteenth Century America |
| title_sort | playing east arabs perform in nineteenth century america |
| topic | Arab performers Lebanese Immigration nineteenth century Syrian Immigration America North African Immigration |
| url | https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/41 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindajacobs playingeastarabsperforminnineteenthcenturyamerica |