On May 4, 2021, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) hosted “MENA Representation in Western Storytelling,” a timely virtual discussion with Cynthia Schneider (Georgetown University), Nadia Conners (Writer & Director), Lameece Issaq (Actor, Writer & Founding Artistic Director of Noor Theatre), Khaled Abol Naga (Actor, Producer & Director), Rosaline Elbay (Actress & Writer), and Tarek Bishara (Actor & Filmmaker), moderated by Ramy Yaacoub (TIMEP).
The production of film, television, and theater in the Global North has historically failed to represent and include individuals from the MENA region both on screen and in the writing room. Despite some actions taken to rectify this issue, we continue to see the industry leaving out the perspectives of those from the MENA region whose stories are being shared and sold to a mainstream audience. Through a moderated discussion, our panelists reflected on how this underrepresentation and misrepresentation in media and theater perpetuates harmful narratives, while also leaving out an important part of the story, and explored how others in this space are striving to achieve greater inclusivity.
View the event here: