Reflection

Media in the Middle East was an essential course that reminded me that even though technology and the media are advancing, one cannot undermine and underestimate the role of human beings while overestimating the role of digital media. During the course, we observed the role of media and communication in framing the social, cultural, and political environment of the Middle East; while also keeping political and social constraints in mind. The digital era was a pivotal turn for the Middle East. How the region reacted and what they have done to keep up with the ever-changing media are some of the things we examined through readings and videos. The interesting thing about this course is that throughout the weeks, we detected the development from traditional media to digital media in the Middle East and how that influenced local citizens in both a social and a political context. 

Media in the Middle East provided me with an essential background about the role of media during the uprising, without over-crediting social media platforms and under-crediting the people. In a mid-term paper, I argued that social media mattered in the Sudanese uprising only insofar as it went simultaneously and closely with state-wide on-the-ground protests. Throughout my research and class discussions, I realized that utilizing social media to spread news and updates regarding the protests was essential to ensure that on-the-street efforts were not going to waste. Instead, social media was present to pressure the international community and grab their attention while keeping the rest of the world informed about what was happening. The short paper on a topic that mattered to me demonstrated the importance of social media in reaching a wider audience but also how people use the media for political and social concerns. While many use social media for pleasure and memes, others use it to change regimes and demand rights. For instance, in my final paper, I discuss how social media as a public forum was essential for Saudi women’s fight against male guardianship because of the level of counter-public it was able to provide and that public forums are still a threat to Saudi women’s fight for autonomy and safety as they expose women and may deny counter-discourses. To compare and contrast these two topics, both emphasize the role of social media in discussing critical issues, expanding the audience, and not overestimating it, as it has its challenges and disadvantages. Nevertheless, for Saudi women in public forums, it reiterates the false techno-utopian assumptions, and to what extent can the media influence and pursue change in a conservative society? While for the Sudanese revolution, social media was a crucial tool to gain attention and advocate for accountability.