A Revolution of Smiles? The Function of Humor in Algerian Media During the 2019–2020 Protests

Sonay, Ali (2023). A Revolution of Smiles? The Function of Humor in Algerian Media During the 2019–2020 Protests. In: Khalil, Joe F.; Khiabany, Gholam; Guaaybess, Tourya; Yesil, Bilge (eds.) The Handbook of Media and Culture in the Middle East (pp. 340-351). Wiley 10.1002/9781119637134.ch28

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Algeria witnessed peaceful protests between 2019 and 2020, known as the Hirak . Media were both one of the major subjects and the forums of these protests. This chapter asks what role humor played as a rhetorical device for the protestors and in which media spheres these humorous takes were circulated. It focuses on how humor was used during the Hirak , and with what implications. To this end, I use data from interviews I conducted with journalists and academics, as well as analysis of Facebook and Twitter posts, and Algerian websites. The chapter concludes that humor played an important function in three different ways: 1) in creating agency for the movement by framing the demands in an appealing and resonating way. 2) by contributing to a culture of commonality, and 3) by infusing a dimension of fun and relief into a challenging wave of mobilization over an extended period.

Item Type:

Book Section (Book Chapter)

Division/Institute:

06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institut für Studien zum Nahen Osten und zu muslimischen Gesellschaften

UniBE Contributor:

Sonay, Ali

Subjects:

200 Religion > 290 Other religions
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 320 Political science
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 380 Commerce, communications & transportation
900 History > 960 History of Africa

ISBN:

9781119637066

Publisher:

Wiley

Language:

English

Submitter:

Ali Sonay

Date Deposited:

21 Apr 2022 06:29

Last Modified:

10 Apr 2024 16:37

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/9781119637134.ch28

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/168186

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/168186

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