This conversation is an essential guide for anyone navigating the dualities of Arab identity, artistic integrity, and the unpredictable forces of the viral age. Multidisciplinary artist and professor Narcy (Yassin Alsalman) dives deep into the complex relationship between art, celebrity, power, and internet culture. Narcy discusses his conscious choice to reject the pursuit of virality, instead focusing on crafting art with deep meaning and intention, even as his work—from his viral Kanye West course at Concordia to his music videos—repeatedly breaks through the noise. Narcy unpacks his latest album, To Be An Arab, an intentional return to analog art in a digital world, and details the spiritual serendipity of creating the groundbreaking music video for R.E.D with Yasiin Bey and The Halluci Nation (formerly known as A Tribe Called Red). 

0:00 Introduction 

2:54 Narcy's Deep Fake Video and the Death of Celebrity

3:59 Narcy's "Me Against The World"

6:51 To Be An Arab: The Double LP and the Power of Analog

7:21 Rejecting Celebrity by Removing Himself From Music Videos

8:13 Collaborating with AboodSkiba and Investing in the Arab Creative Economy

9:07 Narcy Performs "Palm Trees"

11:45 AboodSkiba's Political Comedy and Cultural Translation

12:44 Narcy Discusses Data Rights and The Ego of Internet Exposure

14:25 Misunderstood Elements of Celebrity and Internet Culture

16:16 The Kanye West Course at Concordia: Going Viral by Accident and Its Aftermath

18:18 The Politics of Academia

20:30 Rejecting The Power of Virality

22:27 "R.E.D" with Yasiin Bey and The Halluci Nation: Decolonial Art and Indigenous Solidarity

32:12 Advice to Young Arab Artists on Integrity and Sacrifice

34:43 No Smoking Allowed: A Rap Exercise as a Flex

36:28 The Analog vs. Digital Divide in Art Value

38:12 Narcy's "The Sword and The Neck"

42:21 Crafting a Visual Practice and Processing Trauma Through Art

44:11 Q&A: Arab Masculinity and the Will to Change

46:58 Q&A: Contextualizing Early Political Work like "Fatwa"

50:16 Q&A: The Political Driver Behind Artistic Process

53:43 Q&A: The Role of Humor in Dealing with Heavy Topics

56:39 Q&A: Globalizing Arab Identity Without Dilution

59:58 Q&A: Protecting the Soulful Work From Systemized Propaganda

1:01:14 Q&A: Experiences with Censorship

1:02:07 Q&A: Managing a Love-Hate Relationship with The Internet

1:04:14 Q&A: What Positive Should We Expect in The Future?

Yassin Alsalman, better known by his stage name Narcy, is an Iraqi-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, author, and university professor, and one of the co-founders of Maktaba bookshop in Montreal. 

Connect with Narcy 👉 https://instagram.com/narcynarce

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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We explore why certain cultural productions thrive exclusively online, the debate around meme humor versus emotional resonance, and how memes can serve as a form of social critique. Dr. Cristina Moreno Almeida, from Queen Mary University of London, joins us and discusses her research into internet culture and memes, particularly their role in North Africa. The author of "Memes, Monsters, and the Digital Grotesque," she delves into the unique aspects of Moroccan meme culture, the use of Darija in digital expression, and the political implications of online content in the Arab world, especially in the context of the "Arab Winter" narrative. Dr. Almeida also shares her contributions to the Memememememe exhibition at the media majlis museum.

Download the book 👉 https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/97918/9780197267714.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

00:00 Introduction to Memes, Monsters, and the Digital Grotesque

03:03 The Journey to Studying Memes

05:35 Exclusivity and Globalization of Meme Culture

08:09 Horror and the Grotesque in Memes

16:09 Genres of Memes in North Africa

20:56 Memes as Activism and Crossing Red Lines

25:16 The Diverse Political Landscape of Meme Production

30:57 Darija and Language in Moroccan Meme Culture

38:20 Reception of the Book in Morocco

41:27 The Ephemeral vs. Eternal Nature of the Internet

45:19 Memes as a Litmus Test for Culture

50:59 Contribution to the Meme Exhibition

Dr. Cristina Moreno-Almeida is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture and Arabic Cultural Studies at Queen Mary University of London and Fellow at the Queen Mary Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research interests lie at the intersection of aesthetics, politics, and cultural production. She has published on rap music, memes, the politics of resistance, nationalism, and online far-right cultures. She is the Principal Investigator of the UKRI (ERC nominated) project "Digital Al-Andalus: Radical Perspectives Of and Through Al-Andalus" (2023-2024) which looks at the melding of historical episodes, nostalgia for lost empires, cultural difference, and violent actions on digital media. Her academic journey includes prior posts at the LSE Middle East Centre and the Department of Media and Communications, where  she collaborated on the "Personalised Media and Participatory Culture" project (2015-2017) with the American University of Sharjah (UAE). This research centered on young people’s participatory culture, creative production, and internet usage in Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and the UAE. 

Connect with Cristina Moreno Almeida 👉 https://instagram.com/cristinamoralm

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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We bring you the live recording of a panel we moderated at the media majlis museum in Doha this month. We delve into the history of memes in the Arab world with anthropologist Laure Assaf and Qatari comedian Hamad Al-Amari, where they explore their cultural significance, evolution, and impact on society. They address how memes merge cultural consumption and production, challenging orientalist tropes about Arab societies, and serving as a powerful tool for humor, satire, and political expression. Our panelists share insights into the mechanisms of virality, the role of different social media platforms, and the unique characteristics of Arab meme culture, from the Gamboo3a phenomenon to personal experiences of becoming a meme.

0:00 What Are Memes and What Do They Do?

3:37 The Anthropological Lens: Memes as Cultural Objects

4:56 Defining Memes

6:17 From Pedagogy to Political Satire: An Egyptian Meme Example

7:38 The Power of Memes in Consumption, Production, and Humor

9:49 Collective Identity & Understanding the Audience

10:49 Pop Culture Mashups

12:40 Case Study: the Gamboo3a 

16:29 The Evolution of the Gamboo3a Meme

21:18 Gamboo3a's Legacy in Pop Culture and Its Regional Unity

23:09 Hamad's Journey: Becoming a Meme (Twice!)

25:09 The Origins of Memes and Political Humor in the Arab World

27:01 The Algorithm and Content Virality

28:55 Regional Platform Preferences and Political Content

31:23 The Shelf Life of Arab Memes and Archiving Pop Culture

37:34 Social Backlash and Legislation: The Future of Memes

Hamad Al-Amari is a stand-up comedian, producer and entrepreneur born in Doha and raised in Ireland. He presents the video blog "QTips" on the iloveqatar.net website, which uses short funny videos to explain Qatar.

Connect with Hamad Al-Amari 👉 https://instagram.com/hamadalamari

Laure Assaf is an anthropologist and a specialist of Middle Eastern studies. Her research interests focus on youth, urbanity, and migration in contemporary Emirati society and the broader Gulf region. She is Assistant Professor of Arab Crossroads Studies, Anthropology and Social Research and Public Policy at NYU Abu Dhabi. She was trained in anthropology at Paris Nanterre University and in Arabic at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris. She is working on a book manuscript derived from her PhD thesis, entitled "Arab youths of Abu Dhabi: Status categories, urban sociability and the shaping of subjectivities in the United Arab Emirates (2017)". She is also an Associate Researcher at the French Center for Archeology and Social Sciences (CEFAS) in Kuwait.

Connect with Laure Assaf 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/laure-assaf-b1036442

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Brain rot" as "trashy media for the algorithmic age", the political implications of memes, the differences in global meme cultures, and the impact of AI on the content we receive and share. Dr. Idil Galip is a lecturer in New Media and Digital Culture at the University of Amsterdam and a dedicated scholar of what she's called "meme studies". She shares her insights on the evolution of memes, "brain rot" media, and the impact of algorithms on digital culture. She discusses how memes have transformed from simple internet jokes into complex, monetized digital objects and content economies, dissects the most popular digital platforms we use, and tries to help us predict the future impact of the algorithmic and meme age we live in. 

0:00 Introduction

2:06 Brain Rot: A Media Genre and a State of Being

3:11 The Historical Roots of Brain Rot Content

5:30 Challenges in Meme Research

6:36 Understanding Platform Ideology and Content Economies

12:00 The Origins of Dr. Galip's Meme Research

15:13 From Political Cartoons to Political Memes

18:18 Global vs. Local Meme Cultures

22:11 Platforms and Their Communities

24:25 Niche Meme Cultures: 4chan and Pinterest

26:55 Reddit and Text-Based Memes

28:06 The Impact of Algorithms on Cultural Consumption

30:55 The Illusion of Openness and Personalized Content

33:52 Favorite Platforms and Doom Scrolling

36:27 The Death of Monoculture in the Digital Age

40:30 The Paradox of Connection and Loneliness

43:10 A Timeline of The Internet: Web 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0

47:07 The Rise of Generative AI and Chatbots in Meme Culture

53:20 Recommended Meme Accounts and Artists

Dr. Idil Galip is a researcher who explores the intersection of memes, digital labor, and algorithmic culture through ethnographic and digital methods. She's a lecturer in New Media and Digital Culture at the University of Amsterdam and recently co-edited "Critical Meme Reader III: Breaking the Meme" and has published in leading journals on platform studies and internet culture. She founded the Meme Studies Research Network, an international community of people who do interdisciplinary meme research. Her work has been featured in WIRED, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and numerous cultural institutions including the Photographer's Gallery, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Foam, House of Electronic Arts Basel and more. Beyond academia she bridges research and public discourse through keynotes, media appearances, and collaborations with artists and cultural organizations. She's passionate about making digital culture research accessible and relevant to broader audiences. 

Connect with Idil Galip 👉 https://instagram.com/cybervolta

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is AI making journalism better or worse? We explore the evolving relationship between AI and journalism, AI's impact on newsrooms and education, and the critical need for AI literacy, especially in the Global South. Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, Shakeeb Asrar, offers a hopeful, yet cautious, perspective, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and human experience in an increasingly AI-driven world. 

This discussion is part of a three-episode series in conjunction with the "Ai or NAY?" exhibition at media majlis museum.

0:00 Introduction: AI's Exponential Growth

0:29 Is AI Making Journalism Better or Worse?

2:07 The Inevitability of AI in Journalism

4:16 Journalism's Role in Combating Disinformation

5:56 The Workflow of Journalism and AI's Impact

8:47 The Human Element Versus AI in Storytelling

10:09 Ethical Challenges and AI-Generated Content

13:35 The Two Groups: Malicious Intent vs. Lack of Responsibility

17:15 The Global South and AI 

20:48 Cultivating Skepticism in the Age of AI

23:09 The Subtle Dangers of AI: Bias and Manipulation

23:30 Teaching Journalism in the AI Era

27:46 Ethical Guidelines and AI in Film

31:18 AI's Impact on Creativity From a Students' Perspectives

35:04 Identifying AI-Generated Content

38:40 The Control and Manipulation of AI Models

43:08 AI's Impact on Journalism in the Global South

45:17 Essential Tools for Young Journalists in the Arab World

47:37 Historical Context of Misinformation and Propaganda

51:04 Recommendations: "Bodyguard of Lies" and "The Afghanistan Papers"

54:09 AI: A New Tool, Old Dangers

Shakeeb Asrar is an assistant professor in residence in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern Qatar. Before joining, he worked in New York at Alex Gibney’s award-winning film company, Jigsaw Productions, helping to produce an upcoming feature film by Paramount about the war in Afghanistan. He has worked as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, primarily at Al Jazeera English, focusing on interactive and multimedia stories for AJ’s digital platforms. His work focuses on stories from or about the Global South, with an emphasis on challenging the skewed portrayals of the region in global media. He has received journalism and filmmaking grants from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (New York Chapter), the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), and the Pulitzer Center. 

Connect with Shakeeb Asrar 👉 https://instagram.com/shakeebasrar

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our discussion around the media majlis museum's recent exhibition "Ai or NAY?" and explore the ethics of AI, featuring insights from exhibition contributors Katy Gillett and Hadeer Omar. We delve into the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence, exploring the ethical considerations surrounding AI models that are increasingly influencing our lives and creativity. We tackle the nuances of AI as a tool, its societal impacts, and the balance between technological advancement and human agency.

0:00 AI and Human Intelligenc

0:28 The Politics of AI

0:49 The Petrifying Aspect of AI

1:24 Introducing the Exhibition

2:30 Artificial Versus Intelligent

5:00 AI as a Tool for Artists

9:35 Data and Geopolitics

13:06 Optimism Amidst AI Challenges

14:38 Transparency and Bias in AI

18:34 The Laziness Induced by AI

22:16 Hadeer's Exhibition Piece: How We See the Computer Versus How the Computer Sees Us

26:00 AI and Surveillance

30:25 The Unknowns of AI

35:07 AI's Impact on Human Behavior and Skills

40:26 The Dangers of Misinformation

45:10 The Regional Approach to AI

50:11 Key Takeaways from the Exhibition

Hadeer Omar an Egyptian visual communicator and time-based media artist based in Qatar. After receiving her BFA in Graphic Design, she moved back to Egypt to apply visual arts to her practice. Omar attained an MFA in Design Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University Arts in Qatar. She crossed disciplines and mediums within art, design and film, presenting her identity through her work, which showcases her interest in the concept of hacking cultures visually. She combines mediums to explore numerous techniques and methods to produce her own illustrations, photographs and videos. There are stories behind each piece of her work. Omar has been given an honorary mention for her concept “3arabizi keyboard” at the STARTS Prize – Grand prize of the European Commission honoring Innovation in Technology, Industry and Society stimulated by the Arts. The project was exhibited in Ars Electronica festival in Linz, Austria and Drive: Volkswagen Group Forum in Berlin, Germany (2017). Recently, her visual diaries were displayed at the 202020 exhibition at VCU Arts Qatar’s gallery and at the Calligraphies in Conversation 2017 Exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, U.S.A. “Hack you” video art, Cairo video festival (2015), “The reason” video art (2017), “Ouda w sala” Documentary short film (2011), “Rights of Passage” Stop motion, DOP, Short film (2017), “Chaos Antidote” experimental documentary short film (2017). Her work is personal and reflective that is documenting political and social events, displayed and featured internationally and locally online and offline. Currently, she is working as a teacher assistant at the Art Foundation Department at VCU Arts Qatar.

Katy Gillett is a journalist, editor, and content strategist with almost two decades of experience working in newsrooms, magazines, agencies, and for brands in the UK and Middle East. She has written for numerous publications, including The National, Condé Nast Traveller, and Vogue. In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has led editorial teams and shaped brand narratives for clients such as Toyota and Dubai World Trade Centre. Gillett's current work includes feature writing, editorial consultancy, and running her platform and newsletter, Desert Prose, which is designed to support media freelancers in the Middle East. She has also edited publications for Northwestern University in Qatar, including a glossary on AI and journalism.

Connect with Katy Gillett 👉 https://instagram.com/katygillett

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We delve into the genesis and meaning behind the media majlis museum's groundbreaking exhibition, "Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent," which challenges the dichotomous view of artificial intelligence. The curator of art, media, and technology at the museum, Jack Thomas Taylor, explores how AI, often presented as a utopian solution, is also a tool of surveillance and violence in the Arab world, a reality that the exhibition confronts head-on. He shares insights into how the museum approaches exhibition-making with a nuanced, non-Western perspective, and why the "dirty history" of museums is a conversation worth having in a regional context. We discuss the critical need for local voices in shaping AI and the dangers of a technology dominated by a singular perspective.

The "Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent" exhibition ran from January 15 to May 15, 2025, at the media majlis museum at Northwestern University in Doha, Qatar. It explored the evolving relationship between human creativity and machine learning, examining the opportunities and challenges AI presents for contemporary journalism and wider society. It was structured around four themes—Hindsight, Insight, Foresight, and Oversight—to encourage visitors to explore how AI transforms notions of privacy, identity, and representation. The exhibition featured a collection of more than 20 works by regional and international artists, including immersive digital experiences, newly commissioned works, and pieces loaned from institutions such as the Computer History Museum and the Barjeel Art Foundation. The exhibition's glossary of terms related to AI and journalism was available in both English and Arabic.

Explore the mm:museum 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mediamajlismuseum/

00:00 Introduction 

02:07 "Ai or Nay?": The Genesis of the Exhibition's Idea

03:15 The Paradox of Artificial versus Intelligent

05:55 The State of AI at the Start of the Project

09:02 Organizing the Exhibition: Hindsight, Insight, Oversight, Foresight

13:16 The Importance of Regional Nuances

16:51 The Violence of AI and Its Impact

20:51 A Commissioned Artwork: "Artificial Target"

25:31 The Future of AI and the Role of Humans

34:54 The Challenge of Arabic Large Language Models

38:41 The Scarcity of Knowledge and AI

41:13 How AI Explores Creative Ownership

45:41 The Oversight and Plagiarism of AI

51:38 The "Ai or Nay" Glossary

Jack Thomas Taylor is the Curator of Art, Media, and Technology at the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar. A founding curator of the museum since 2017, Taylor has extensive experience in the arts, culture, and creative industries across the Gulf region, including in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, and Qatar. As an experienced curator and producer, he has managed exhibitions from conception to delivery and has held various positions in creative services and editorial work. Taylor is also a founding board member of the inaugural International Council of Museums (ICOM) national committee in Qatar.

Connect with Jack Thomas Taylor 👉 https://instagram.com/bintaylor

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podcast. This is the last one in the three in which we explore the history and vernaculars of Arabic, the state of Arabic publishing, and the role of translation in it all. Host Layan Abdul Shakoor highlights the challenges of publishing practices and guests Dr Enam Al-Wer and Omar Thawabeh share (respectively) their insights on linguistic variations and evolutions, and on the intricacies of translating between Arabic dialects. The panel also addresses the need for re-standardization of Arabic, overcoming barriers in the publishing industry, and fostering a love for the Arabic language among younger generations. 

00:00 Introduction
06:23 The Evolution & Variation of Arabic Language & Dialect 
20:26 The Complexity of Using the Vernacular in Arabic Translation 
34:22 Remodeling Fusha to Serve the Modern Arab Culture
46:49:00 Q&A Round One 
Translation as a Form of Smuggling
Ownership of Fusha and the Need for Re-Standardizathion of Arabic
Urgency for Inclusivity of Dialects in Re-Standardized Arabic
01:05:00 Q&A Round Two 
The Demand and Value in Publishing in Vernacular Arabic 
Challenges of Vernacular Use in Publishing
The Service of Fusha, Television and Vernacular Arabic
The Use of Verncular Arabic in Education and Dubbing

Dr Enam Al-Wer is a Professor of Linguistics who earned her BA in English and German from the University of Jordan and a Diploma in German from the Goethe Institute, Munich. She completed her MLing in Manchester, focusing on the syntax of negation in Jordanian Arabic, and her PhD at the University of Essex, under Prof Peter Trudgill, examining phonological variation in women’s speech. Dr Enam has taught English Linguistics at Philadelphia University, Jordan, and sociolinguistics at both Cambridge University and Birkbeck College.

Connect with Prof. Enam 👉 https://enamalwer.com/

Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun.

Connect with Omar 👉 @omarthawabeh

Hosted by: 
Layan Abdul Shakoor 👉 https://www.instagram.com/layanabdulshakoor

Layan is the founder and creative director of Mauzoun, the region’s first creative studio specializing in premium writing and boutique publishing. Under her leadership, Mauzoun has served over 100 clients across 15 countries, published numerous high-quality Arabic novels and coffee table books, and won prestigious awards, including the Publishing Accelerator Award and Ithra Arabic Content Initiative Grant. Renowned for setting new standards in bespoke content and royalty-based publishing, Layan continues to position Mauzoun as the Arab world’s premier writing and publishing house.

Explore 👉 https://mauzoun.com/

Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podcast. This is the second of the three where our experts delve into the nuances of Arabic Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its intersection with artificial intelligence (AI). Moderator Dr Wajdi Zaghwani who is an associate professor at Northwestern University Qatar, speaks with Salma Elkhaoudi – a PhD candidate at Stanford University focusing on the social impact of Arabic large language models – and Professor Nizar Habash – a leading expert in Arabic NLP at NYU Abu Dhabi. Topics covered include the challenges of developing Arabic AI models, the importance of preserving dialect diversity, and how AI influences cultural identity and language in digital spaces. The panel also touches on the ethical considerations of AI use, the role of academia and industry in advancing Arabic tech, and the importance of digital literacy in understanding AI's capabilities and limits.

00:00 Introduction
02:01 Meet our Panelists & Overview
03:09 Discussion on AI & Arabic Cultural Identity 
05:34 Technological Evolution in NLP
07:24 Complexities of the Arabic Language
15:07 Technical & Cultural Challenges
24:44 Improving Arabic Representation
33:03 Preserving Arabic Richness
36:45 Fluency vs Accuracy in AI
44:56 Understanding Human vs Machine Intelligence
46:41 The Importance of AI Literacy & Future of Arabic AI
49:38 Challenges & Opportunities in Arabic AI
52:42 Balancing Fast Innovation With Cultural Sensitivity
01:07:19 Value in focusing on Fusha & Arabic Dialects
01:15:40 Open Q&A

Nizar Habash is a Professor of Computer Science at NYU Abu Dhabi and director of the CAMeL Lab, specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics. His research focuses on machine translation, morphological analysis, and Arabic dialects. Author of Introduction to Arabic Natural Language Processing, and over 250 publications, he is a recipient of the King Salman Academy for Arabic Language Award (2022) and the Antonio Zampolli Prize (2024).

Connect with Nizar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/nizarhabash

Salma Elkhaoudi is a PhD candidate in the anthropology of science at Stanford University, with a focus on the development of Arabic-trained AI and its sociocultural implications in the Arab Gulf. Her research explores how ideas about the Arab past and future are being brought into relation with each other through AI. She has spent several years working as a technology and AI researcher in the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Read more about the 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024

Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/

Hosted by Wajdi Zaghouani 👉 https://x.com/wzaghouani

Wajdi Zaghouani is an associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, specializing in AI and computational linguistics with a focus on Arabic data analytics, social media analysis, fake news detection, and hate speech. He has secured over $6 million in research funding, primarily through competitive grants from the Qatar National Research Fund, including for projects like the MARSAD Social Media Observatory and Hate Speech Detection. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Zaghouani also serves as an associate editor for journals like Journal of Natural Language Engineering and Frontiers in AI.

Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024

Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podcast. Past guest Ibrahim Abusharif moderated the first panel with experts Amanda Abou Abdallah, Rana Kazkaz, and Hussein Fakhri who come from leading media organizations. They explored the evolving role of the Arabic language across diverse media platforms, covering a variety of critical topics including the evolution of Arabic content creation, the issues in needing to humanize Arab narratives, the impact of censorship, the future of Arabic language in media, and the importance of developing original and authentic Arab stories. They highlight the potential for growth and the need for a robust infrastructure to support original content creation from the Arab world.

00:00 Introduction
01:02 Panel Introduction 
01:33 Exploring Arabic & Media
03:01 Panelist Backgrounds
04:33 The Importance of Arabic Content 
10:04 Challenges & Opportunities in Arabic Media
27:47 Censorship 
37:53 Controversy & Class Issues
38:57 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators
39:35 Challenges in Arabic-Language Storytelling
42:31 Economic Models & Funding in Film Industry
46:23 Linguistic Diversity & Representation
57:01 AI and Future of Content Creation
01:09:49 Dehumanization & Authentic Storytelling
01:15:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Amanda Abdallah is the founder and creative chief of Khateera, a platform dedicated to supporting Arab women on their journey to self-realization. She has over 14 years of experience as a director and media strategist. Her diverse portfolio includes edutainment shows, commercials, fiction shorts, docu-series, and transformative social change campaigns. Her work has reached over half a billion views, leaving an indelible mark on the regional content landscape.

Connect with Amanda 👉 https://www.instagram.com/amanda.abaa/
Explore Khateera 👉 https://www.instagram.com/khateera__/

Hussein Fakhri is the Chief Commercial Officer at Katara Studios, where he plays a pivotal role in driving growth and shaping the studio's creative impact on the entertainment industry. He began his career in advertising technology and digital marketing, honing his expertise in innovative strategies. He went on to establish successful ventures in advertising, film production, and talent services in Doha, further cementing his reputation as a visionary leader in the creative industries.

Connect with Hussein 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hose20/
Explore Katara Studios 👉 https://www.instagram.com/katarastudios/

Rana Kazkaz is a filmmaker and associate professor in residence at Northwestern University Qatar. Her films have been recognized at the world’s leading festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tallinn, Tribeca, and Abu Dhabi. With a focus on Syrian stories, her producing, screenwriting, and directing portfolio includes The Translator, Mare Nostrum, Deaf Day, and Kemo Sabe. She is a member of the Académie des César and was awarded fellowships with the Buffett Institute, MacDowell and the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.

Connect with Rana 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ranakazkaz/

Hosted by 👉 Ibrahim N. Abusharif 
Watch out episode with Ibrahim 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spBfkEC2r4E

Ibrahim Abusharif is an associate professor in Journalism and Strategic Communication, specializing in narrative journalism, religious studies, and storytelling decolonization. His research focuses on religion and media intersections, digital disruptions, and the framing of Middle Eastern and Muslim narratives in Western journalism. His work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and more, and he has edited over 30 books and translated Islamic texts.

Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024

Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/

FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2n

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.