Middle East and Africa Summit 2020

Narrative in the Arab World

Written and spoken accounts of events and situations may differ greatly from one storyteller to the next. That's why it's important to know who is telling the story when trying to understand a narrative. Arab culture has been dogged by innumerable misconceptions and stereotypes over centuries. Technological developments and globalization convey information in many forms to audiences around the world. However, much of the content depicting Arab culture has originated from outside the Arab world, imprinting many observers with a narrative projected on to the region, rather than a narrative created by the people of the region. The various reasons underlying this virtual mythmaking call for exploration, and it is equally important to visualize future changes and opportunities to correct the story. The Arab media and film industry have a vital role in embracing the discourse, realigning the themes, and reclaiming the narratives to present a full, rich, and broad picture.