Description
Book SynopsisAn account of dissidence in Hafiz Asads Syria, describing how intellectuals tried to navigate between charges of complicity with the state and treason against it.
Trade Review“
Dissident Syria is an important and urgent book. In her fascinating account of Syrian cultural productions during the 1990s, miriam cooke documents the abyss between Syrian lived experiences and the rhetoric of the state. She extols the creative minds whose works exemplify the power of art.”—Susan Slyomovics, author of
The Performance of Human Rights in Morocco“With respectful seriousness, a fascinating narrative, and a lucid style, miriam cooke, a very distinguished writer and Arabist, offers in
Dissident Syria a probing examination and illuminating account of Syria’s sloganeering culture—where literature and the arts are manipulated and the unconscious becomes the hero. cooke’s book is powerful, stimulating, and remarkable for its empirical analysis and daring.”—Abdul Sattar Jawad, former secretary general of the Iraqi Writers Union
“A thorough – and heartbreaking – account of creative life in Syria, and an implicit homage to the indomitable human spirit, in this case Arab men who can be counted among the great dissidents of our times. . . . Miriam Cooke’s book on dissidents in Syria exceeds its original purpose by opening the door to Syrian intellectuals, writers and filmmakers. It points to a crucial problem – the abuse of power that has turned that nation into a police state – and opines that Syria, with all its richness and diversity, deserves better. Given real peace, both inside and outside its borders, Syria could again become a center of creativity, culture and civilization.” -- Etel Adnan * Al Jadid *
“[cooke] candidly writes about her initial failures to grasp nuances of Syria's culture, including giving a public lecture on women's literature in Syria with Assad's pronouncement on culture as its title. . . . Yet Ms. cooke's persistence paid off with startling revelations about the middle ground in Syrian art between collaboration and incarceration.” -- Richard Byrne * Chronicle of Higher Education *
“In
Dissident Syria, scholar of contemporary Arabic literature miriam cooke sheds light on the heretofore neglected world of Syrian oppositional culture. . . . This important work will attract specialists in a range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
Dissident Syria will appeal to those interested in Syrian, Arab, and Middle Eastern expressive culture. It adds an important dimension to the literature on the relationship between politics and the arts. It also forms a significant contribution to a growing body of work on prison literature. cooke’s accessible, engaging style makes
Dissident Syria an ideal choice for undergraduate courses in the same range of topics.” -- Christa Salamandra * Journal of Middle East Women's Studies *
“Dissident Syria demonstrates the power of art against the power of the state, the versatility of the creative mind in the face of brute force. miriam cooke’s book is a fascinating read.” -- Issa J. Boullata * World Literature Today *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii
Introduction 3
1. “Culture is Humanity’s Highest Need” 19
As If... 20
Slogans, Slogans Everywhere 26
Freedom and Democracy 30
2. Our Literature Does Not Leave the Country 36
Nadia al-Ghazzi 39
Colette al-Khuri 42
3. No Such Thing as Women’s Literature 48
Ulfat Idilbi 49
Salons and Mallahat al-Khani 53
Nadia Khust and the Nadwa 57
4. Commissioned Criticism 65
Culture after the Fall of the Wall 68
Commissioned Criticism 72
The Fantasy of Choice 77
5. Dissident Performances 81
Performing Dissidence 84
The Ghoul 87
Historical Miniatures 92
6. Filming Dreams 100
The Extras 102
Dreaming Features 106
Documenting Dreams 116
7. Lighten Your Step 121
Ibrahim Samu’il 124
Waiting 127
Ghassan al-Jaba’i 130
Lessons from a Rogue State 142
8. Leaving Damascus 145
Postscript 160
Notes 167
Bibliography 177
Index 187
