Revolutionary Art and Politics in Egypt: Liminal Spaces and Cultural Production After 2011

Description

This book examines the role of artists in Egypt during the 2011 revolution, when street art from graffiti to political murals became ubiquitous facets of revolutionary spaces. Through interviews, personal testimonies, and accounts of the lived experience of 25 street artists, the book explores the meaning of art in revolutionary political contexts, specifically by focusing on artistic production during ‘liminal’ moments as the events of the Egyptian revolution unfolded. The author privileges the perspective of the actors themselves to examine the ways that artists reacted to events and conceived of their art as means to further the goals of the revolution. Based on fieldwork conducted in the years since 2011, the book provides a narrative of Egyptian artists’ participation in and representations of the revolution, from hopeful beginnings to the subsequent crackdown and election of al-Sisi. Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Culture and the Egyptian state: A background Chapter 2: Setting the stage for a political and artistic revolution: A history of dissent Chapter 3: The first phase: The first eighteen days of the Egyptian revolution (25 January 2011–11 February 2011) Chapter 4: The second phase of the revolution: Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) rule (February 2011–June 2012) Chapter 5: The third phase of the revolution: Morsi’s presidency (June 2012–July 2013) Chapter 6: The end of the revolution Chapter 7: Conclusion Appendix I Appendix II Notes Bibliography Index