For those of you who read Arabic, Mohamed at Digressing has a fascinating post which goes to the heart of the Nancy-Haifa culture wars. He compares two new video clips: one by the belly-dancing sex bomb Ruby, the other by Haitham Said featuring a woman wearing hijab. I'm stealing his pictures here because the contrast is so perfect:
Mohamed looks at these two new video clips, and wonders what the latter - like Stacy's favorite Sami Youssef - means in terms of the new Islamic religiosity. I haven't seen the video yet, but I'm going to try to find a copy as soon as I can - I wonder whether having a muhajiba (veiled girl) presented as a completely normal girl in a video clip will be seen as insulting to veiled women, as a useful corrective to stereotypes about veiled women, as a dangerous "recruitment" tool encouraging women to veil, or all (or none) of the above? Will it appeal to religious youth by giving them a place within popular culture with which they can identify, kind of like Christian Rock allegedly does, even if it infuriates neofundamentalists and cultural conservatives who oppose the video clips on principle? As Mohamed points out, it's important because video clips are probably the most widely viewed of all television and cultural products today, especially in the younger generation, which makes this kind of thing all the more important. Anyway, I don't have time today to comment on this further, but wanted to point people that way if they're interested.
Saw the video with the covered girl (that could be the name for a new line of lip-gloss) last night. She's very hot, and in the video quite flirtatious and forward with her suitor. And it looks a lot like typical behavior on a thursday night along the corniche here in cairo, at least.
Posted by: Dan | April 17, 2005 at 10:18 AM
Interesting! I couldn't really tell from Mohamed's screen capture, but she looked pretty flirtatious to me too. I wonder how novel this kind of presentation is in terms of pop culture - as opposed to what we've all seen in the real world?
Posted by: the aardvark | April 17, 2005 at 10:31 AM
I don't watch much, but based on what watching i do, this is pretty rare. But it's almost like video verite (if there is such a thing) in that it's much more in touch (head scarf or not) with the way guys and girls seem to flirt here. A new realist movement in arab videos? Probably not.
Posted by: Dan | April 17, 2005 at 12:42 PM
Yeah - thats what we need to halt all work...more pictures of Ruby posted on the blogs.
Everyone knows that is the only reason to go to the gym is watch her videos.
Ahhhh....
AA, you were making some other important, intellectual point?????? (ha ha)
Posted by: Josh | April 17, 2005 at 03:32 PM
I come here for the boobies!
Posted by: Hassan | April 17, 2005 at 06:33 PM
Yes, Hassan, for an intellectual perspective on them.
Posted by: Mohamed | April 17, 2005 at 07:13 PM
I wonder what you mean by "presented like a normal girl in the video clip" - in the Middle East (particularly in Egypt these days) veiled girls are "normal" and Ruby is not (if you mean by "normal" to be regular people you see outside or at school etc - not video clip dancers/singers). I think you are using the word "normal" in a strange sense.
Posted by: Anna in Cairo | April 18, 2005 at 05:04 AM
Anna - I didn't mean anything special by "normal" - just presenting a muhajiba as a normal teenage girl, flirting and hanging out.
Guys - the point was the muhajiba, not Ruby! Ruby was only there as a contrast. Jeez...
Posted by: the aardvark | April 18, 2005 at 09:54 AM
The presentation that you describe does indeed sound like the normal way muhajiba girls behave. In other words, just like everyone else. I will watch for the video and/or ask my 14 year old to fill me in.
Posted by: Anna in Cairo | April 18, 2005 at 10:10 AM
Ruby.....Ruby....Ruby....
Did you say something AA?
Posted by: Josh | April 18, 2005 at 12:18 PM
In all truth, I think this is how some (shouldn't generalize) muhajjaba's act. Flirt, play cute, and hang around holding hands in public places (in Egypt atleast). Definetely however, alot of people will not be impressed by promoting such behavior as "normal" for muhajjabas.
I haven't seen the clip, but I wonder how far they went, and if not in this one, when they will have the new trend muhajjaba's in the clips start moving their hips in some "normal" dance moves.
Mohammed mentioned in his blog that Sherif Sabri, Ruby's clips director, is the one who directed this veiled clip as well (and he's the one who directed the NDPs last year Party convention). Now, all culture-wars aside, he's pretty good at what he does.
Posted by: Mohamed | April 18, 2005 at 01:02 PM
I saw the video several times, and I was really surprised at first. However, I think Sherif Sabry is a smart guy and he wanted to be the first ever to put a Muhajjaba as the female lead in a video clip. Thus, I think he did it for novelty's sake.
Posted by: Hassan | April 18, 2005 at 02:15 PM
Ah Yesssssss, Ruby.
That must have been the girl Dion envisioned back in 1963 when he had this hit record.
Yes, they were vinal records in those dark ages.
Here on this page is a sample of the record, along with other great "Golden Oldies"
Ah Yesssssss, Ruby.
That must have been the girl Dion envisioned back in 1963 when he had this hit record.
Yes, they were vinal records in those dark ages.
Go listen to them.
I guess I'm showing my age. I must have played this record a thousand times on the jukebox.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
I guess I'm showing my age.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Posted by: Papa Ray | August 20, 2005 at 04:17 PM
I was really surprised when i first saw haytham's clip esp that i've been waiting since superstar for his album. Anyway i really loved the clip cz its really different. That the best video clip i've ever seen cz its haytham's ans he's my best singer!!!!!!!!! Also sherif has proved that he's good in directing other kind of clips! Hope to see more clips for haytham and sherif!
Posted by: farah | November 13, 2005 at 03:00 PM
hey my name is zeinab kodsi i would luv to saii that i luv u
so0o0o0o0o0 much Haitham Said i wanna marry u and u should marry
nancy ajram and noooooo nancyy is more cuter than herr
i luv u Haitham Said and nancy ajram so0o much mwaaaaaaaaaaa
Posted by: hey | May 08, 2007 at 06:30 AM
can i say that mrs farah u r so lame, yes nancy is cuter than her but haitham has a bit more sense and hes gone for a more modest girl not like nancy.
i think this vedio teaches u all alot, number 1 muhajabas are normal people and not aliens singled out of a cummunity. i cant remember but someone said that she is the normal one and ruby is the abnormal one that is perfectly right. its about time muhajabas got into these kind of industries but to stay moderate and not push the limits too much. i found the vedio very sweet and realistic.
Posted by: annon | June 22, 2007 at 11:15 AM
nice way of promoting hijabis as normal youth
Posted by: sarah | March 07, 2008 at 01:33 PM