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Introduction
Although Arab theatre - in the sense of stage plays - did not develop until the 19th century, the region has other dramatic traditions dating back hundreds of years. These include puppetry, storytelling and Ta'ziyah - a type of religious passion play performed in Shi'a communities.
For…
Until the 1990s almost all television channels in the Arab countries were government owned and rigidly controlled. These channels still exist but the situation began to change in the 1990s with the spread of satellite television. Privately owned and non-governmental channels introduced livelier…
No people in the world manifest such enthusiastic admiration for literary expression and are so moved by the word, spoken or written, as the Arabs. Modern audiences in Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo can be stirred to the highest degree by the recital of poems, only vaguely comprehended, and by the…
Introduction
"Arab music" is music created by Arabs. Beyond that, it is difficult to say precisely what makes it "Arab". As in other parts of the world, its development is the result of multiple influences.
"It is an amalgam of the music of the Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula and the music of all…
Pre-Islamic literature
The structure of the Arabiclanguageis well-suited to harmonious word-patterns, with elaborate rhymes and rhythms. The earliest known literature emerged in northern Arabia around 500 AD and took the form of poetry which was recited aloud, memorised and handed down from one…
Henna
Skin decoration in the Arab world is practised mostly by women and takes the form of designs on hands and feet using henna, which fades away over a period of days or weeks. Increasingly, street artists in resorts such as Marrakesh and Sharm el-Sheikh also provide henna decoration of varying…
General information
Dance styles in the Middle East
Middle Eastern dance rhythms
Explanation and examples
Dance of the Seven Veils
A European invention (shira.net)
El-Funoun
Website of a Palestinian dance troupe that founded thePopular Art Centrein the West Bank
Dance in Oman
Oman Centre for…
The Arab cinemas are both the product and the expression of a long and unresolved struggle for the control of the image, for the power to define identity. That identity is clearly rooted in the crossroads of culture of the region, extending as it does between Europe and Black Africa, between the…
Styles of calligraphy
Decorative writing – calligraphy – is one of the highest art forms of the Arab world. This is partly because strict Muslims disapprove of art which represents humans or living things.
A wealth of information about Arabic calligraphy can be found atislamicart.com, a website…
Islamic art is perhaps the most accessible manifestation of a complex civilization that often seems enigmatic to outsiders. Through its brilliant use of color and its superb balance between design and form, Islamic art creates an immediate visual impact. Its strong aesthetic appeal transcends…
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
