Anqi Wang

Defying Kuwaiti Censorship and Addressing the Crisis of Intellectualism: Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam as a Subversive Feminine Dystopian Fairy Tale

Introduction

Defying kuwaiti censorship and addressing the crisis of intellectualism: Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam as a subversive feminine dystopian fairy tale. Explore Buthayna al-ʿĪsa's 'Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam,' a subversive feminine dystopian fairy tale that critiques Kuwaiti censorship and the crisis of intellectualism post-Arab Spring.

Abstract

The “Arab Spring” posed a significant challenge to entrenched authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), disrupting the pursuit of freedom and democracy while exacerbating existing social and political crises. In its aftermath, contemporary Arabic literature saw a marked rise in dystopian novels that reflect on past revolutions and project a bleak future. This widespread revolutionary spirit also inspired marginalised groups in Kuwait, including censored writers. Against this backdrop, Kuwaiti author Buthayna al-ʿĪsa, in her 2019 work Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam (Guardian of the World Surface), weaves well-known Western fairy tale figures into a dystopian narrative set in a Middle Eastern context. Her use of estrangement – now a survival strategy for activists and intellectuals in Kuwait and across the Arab world post-“Arab Spring” – enables her to critique book censorship and the growing totalitarianism in Kuwait while skilfully avoiding censorship herself. Framing the narrative through a bookstore proprietress who both writes and participates in the story, Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam offers a nuanced portrayal of female characters, both within the narrative and as the storyteller, emphasising the subversive potential of Arab women to confront the Symbolic order and the crisis of intellectualism in the post-revolutionary era.

Review

This paper offers a timely and insightful analysis of Buthayna al-ʿĪsa's 2019 novel, *Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam*, expertly situating it within the crucial context of post-"Arab Spring" contemporary Arabic literature and the challenges of Kuwaiti censorship. The study effectively highlights how al-ʿĪsa's work emerges from a period marked by political upheaval and a rise in dystopian narratives reflecting societal anxieties and intellectual crises. By focusing on a Kuwaiti author navigating a restrictive environment, the paper promises a valuable contribution to understanding the subtle yet potent strategies employed by censored writers in the MENA region to critique growing totalitarianism. A significant strength of this analysis lies in its compelling argument that *Ḥāris saṭḥ al-ʿālam* functions as a "subversive feminine dystopian fairy tale." The paper commendably focuses on al-ʿĪsa's innovative use of well-known Western fairy tale figures within a Middle Eastern dystopia, leveraging "estrangement" not only as a narrative device but also as a crucial survival strategy for activists and intellectuals. Furthermore, the emphasis on the nuanced portrayal of female characters, both within the narrative and as the storyteller (a bookstore proprietress), effectively underscores the subversive potential of Arab women to challenge the Symbolic order and address the crisis of intellectualism in the post-revolutionary era. This approach promises a rich interdisciplinary discussion bridging literary analysis, gender studies, and political critique. The premise that al-ʿĪsa skillfully critiques censorship and totalitarianism while avoiding it herself through these narrative strategies makes this an exceptionally relevant and important piece of scholarship. It provides a crucial lens through which to examine the resilience of artistic expression and intellectual discourse in authoritarian contexts, offering valuable insights into contemporary Arabic literature and the ongoing struggles for freedom and critical thought in the Arab world. This paper is poised to significantly contribute to discussions on literary activism, post-revolutionary narratives, and the unique challenges faced by women writers in the Middle East.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.