Singing Revolution

Catalog description

This course explores singing as a powerful medium for engaging with the histories of decolonization, revolution, and feminism. Focusing on the politics of song and the contribution of female vocalists to Arab culture, the course examines the cross-cultural significance of four iconic singers: Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Asmahan, and Warda al-Jazairia. We will investigate how these artists shaped modern Arab identities and diasporic understandings of belonging, particularly within the historical context of the British Empire and its metropole. From Asmahan's alleged involvement in British espionage, to Fairuz's performances at the Royal Albert Hall, to recent West End musicals about Umm Kulthum and Asmahan, London is a living archive of Arab cultural memory. Through a combination of academic inquiry and performance-based exploration at concerts, musical theatre, and participatory workshops such as Sing at the Royal Opera House, students will ask: In what ways does song transcend time and space to leave a lasting global impact? Building on this, they will produce a group presentation or performance that examines the political role of song and its power as a tool for communication, propaganda, resistance and social change. This course will be offered in the June-Term 2026. This course will be taught at NYU London and will count as an Away J-Term course.