Lecture 6 Flashcards
Women’s Voice in the Middle East
what was Lila Abu-Lughod’s book called and what was it about?
called Veiled Sentiments
writing against a mountain of orientalist assumptions that depicted women of the Middle East
what were the orientalist assumptions for women in the middle east?
women totally excluded from public places
didn’t play any role other than fulfilling domestic duties
had no agency so needed a saviour
when does the question of voice become important in terms if Middle Eastern women?
When the world sees a group of people (here: Middle Eastern women) as helpless
what is a voice in the Middle East a metaphor for? why?
agency; you can advocate for yourself if you have a voice, otherwise you’re voiceless
what is silence a metaphor for? why?
oppression; to silence
someone is to suppress their agency and voice.
who are the female stars that represent the powerful idea of turning a voice into a metaphor?
Qamar, Umm Kulthum, Fairouz
why were the female singers Qamar, Umm Kulthum, and Fairouz turned into metaphors?
Because of their high cultural and social status in a particular period,
their emergence as stars often were entangled with the birth of a new
era in the history of their nations.
who was the Iranian diva?
Googoosh
who is Googoosh? when did they burst into the scences?
multitalented artist who burst onto the scene during the 1960s as a singer, dancer, actress, and fashion icon
what was the significance of Googoosh’s emergence as a superstar?
coincided with Iran’s Shah’s new
ideas for a more Westernized and modern country
paved the way for rapid and vast developments of the
new pop culture industries (popularity of TV and the new 45 rpm
records as the new platforms of broadcasting music)
what did Googoosh’s career benefit?
the birth of the new pop culture industry in Iran and its developments
what happened in 1979?
there was a revolution in Iran causing a complete ban on popular music
what did the silence forced on Googoosh symbolize?
the oppression of Iran
what did the complete ban on popular music also oppress?
her entanglement with the pre-revolutionary era, and its flourishing pop music industry as they went to silence simultaneously
When did Googoosh leave Iran and what happened when she did?
She finally left Iran in 2000 and represented a new and more powerful symbolic era for Iran
what are the consequences of powerful metaphors for women and music in the Middle East?
Highlighting the “metaphor” of voices diminishes is physical and technical properties
Focusing too much on divas overshadows other female musicians who are not superstars
Emphasizing the female voice marginalizes female instrumentalist and instruments
What does shifting the focus from voice and divas to female instrumentalist do?
Provides a new perspective of women and music in the middle east
How has instagram been an important platform for Iranian musicians?
Only global major social media platform that is not monitored by Iranian authorities. So it is easy to access both audience and musicians
Many male and females agree that given the complexities of performing live in Iran, instagram is a better platform to stay in touch with fans
Who is Menraz Debirazah?
Instagram Iranian musician known for playing the tombak
What is an example of criticism that female musicians on instagram are criticized for?
Using the sexual attractions of their bodies to gain more attention on Instagram despite having a low quality performance. Therefore, they were accused of compensating for what that lack musically with the sexual attraction of their bodies
How does Dabirzadah respond to criticism?
She mainly ignore them but sometimes responds in interviews saying that she has not used plastic surgery to change her appearance and would do nothing to change her appearence
Why did Dabirzadah receive a paradox response compared to Googoosh in terms of who their music serves?
For divas, their bodies and voices whether metaphorical or physical were used to serve a greater collective force; the nation.
People like Dabirzadah music talents are meant to serve her and her career
Why did Dabirzadah receive a paradox response compared to Googoosh in terms of the body?
For divas, there is a collective control imposed on the body that makes it invisible
For people like Dabirzadah, her appearance is controlled by only her which may lead to what is seems like hypervisibility of her body
Why did Dabirzadah receive a paradox response compared to Googoosh In terms of freedom?
The type of presence Dabirzadah creates anxiety whereby an individuals freedom is not accepted
