Post Arab Revolutions: TV Challenges Stereotypes, Pushes New Frontiers
Date: August 2012 In Syria: Syrian soap operas (musalsals) that once united a country – now are a “casualty of war”.
Arab media expert Omar Adam Sayfo, however, makes a key point: even propaganda infused historical soaps united diverse viewers – Druse, Christian, Sunni or Alawite. Viewers cheered on the TV hero confronting the French soldiers and the TV heroine, “Um Joseph, the Christian woman who protected the Muslim neighborhood.” Bottom line: The soaps – though poisoned by ideology and demonization — made Syrians proud of their history and heritage, even as they entertained viewers on hot, sultry afternoons in Ramadan. Though Turkish soaps now fill the gap for Syrians, old is still gold for the old timers, I suspect – if only in memory. |