Egyptian Male Film Stars in the Nasser Era
Envisioning a National Identity
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Book Presentation:
An exploration of male stardom in Egyptian cinema produced during the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser
Following the Free Officers’ coup of July 1952, the new regime under Gamal Abdel Nasser sought to construct a new Egyptian civic identity, commensurate with the officers’ nationalist, anti-imperialist, and socialist vision for the country. The 1950s was consequently a pivotal decade for Egypt, politically, socially, and economically―and for Egyptian cinema―which saw the emergence of a new generation of popular film stars.
Rooted in cultural and film studies, Egyptian Male Film Stars in the Nasser Era explores male stardom in Egyptian cinema produced during this period, through the lives and careers of three key stars: Omar Sharif, Ismail Yassin, and Farid Shawqi. In attempting to find a balance between the traditional and the modern, the Nasser era placed an emphasis on education, work, and gender equality. Yet, faithfulness to Egyptian traditions and values remained a key part of the state’s vision of collective identity. Samar Abdel-Rahman illuminates how these stars promoted a civic identity that aligned with the regime’s ambitions, and how each of them―through melodrama, comedy, and action―negotiated a different facet of masculine identity that spoke to the ambivalent constructions of hegemonic masculinity during this critical post-colonial period.
About the Author:
Samar Abdel-Rahman is Lecturer in World Cinema at the University of Liverpool. She holds a PhD in Film Studies from King's College London. Her research interests lie at the intersection of Middle East and North African cinema, gender, and socio-political history and culture.
Press Reviews:
"A groundbreaking and long-overdue contribution to the field of global star studies, Samar Abdel-Rahman’s book offers a richly nuanced exploration of male Egyptian film stars and deftly centres diverse and developing types of Arab masculinity in the discourse around the Nasserist regime. This book is sure to become a cornerstone in the study of Egyptian popular cinema and Middle Eastern media history."—Stefanie Van de Peer, Trinity College Dublin
"Original and interesting, this excellent book offers new insights into Egyptian nationalism and gender relations as well as into the interactions between the film industry and power."—Stephen Gundle, The University of Warwick
"Star power defines Egyptian cinema. Amidst a panoply of film legends, Samar Abdel-Rahman zooms in on three exemplary, yet contrasting icons of masculine allure during a golden age for Arab movies and a formative era for a newly independent Egypt. A luminous, textured guide to intersections of fame, fandom, and civic culture."—Joel Gordon, author of Revolutionary Melodrama
See the publisher website: American University in Cairo Press
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