Video performance at Colbert Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngN0n0Ph3PM
Do we like the new phenomena, Elyanna? The answer is yes. Strongly. All the friends in my circle are enthusiastic about her rise. Arabs and non-Arabs alike. She has the voice, and the talent and conducted a powerful performance at the Coachella music festival 2023 a couple of weeks ago. It's the first time Arabic is present at such an international festival. Overnight, everyone I know has her on their Playlist. To top it all with a cherry, she is a proud Palestinian. And vocal about it. A true Child of Handala.
More about her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elyanna
Music @ youtube channel: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCjxRY12ohcocW_XXjMWP-pw
The complex and diverse composition of our social structure, as Muslims or Arabs or Palestinians, suggests that my enthusiasm for what Elyanna represents might not be shared overboard. Some might be saying that she doesn't represent Muslim values. Others might say she acts too Americanized, and some may even say she is not the Palestinian image of a rock-throwing child. Everyone is entitled to their artistic view and reflection.
Let us embrace the diversity of who we are. I have always believed that society is a composition of us, individuals, and a perceived unrealistic idealist mold. You may stick to your guns, disagree with the motion, and shoot a flying dove. Fine. However, for our Palestinian cause, here is why we all should support such rising stars with disregard for our self-reflecting standards.
Art is a proven effective tool to advance a cause. To unite its people and to create the needed global mainstream sentiment to advance it. If the world is to help save us, art indirectly persuades the silent majority that we are worth saving. Hence, It is our duty to engage.
If you don't full-heartedly believe in the benefits of art, that is fine too. I do agree that art alone does not repel tanks or provide air support. However, potentially, it could create international pressure to do so. Based on the modern age we live in, basic business understanding might convince you.
When Netflix funds a show, it analyzes the number of people watching hours of that show. The return on its investment is estimated based on a complex calculation of the attention it receives. If Netflix concludes that a show attracted higher than expected, Netflix will invest further funding to produce shows more likely to attract such attention again. Any kind of funding into media that promote a positive image of us is a celebrated gain for us. The more funding we receive, the more artwork will be produced, the better the production quality will be, the more proud we will become of completed work, and the more positive image radiates into the ether reaching globally conscious.
Hence, when the movie Farha was released, it was our duty to watch it and spread the word about it. Even force our friends and family to watch too. I watched it multiple times. In the hope, we see more Palestinian perspective movies and series on Netflix available to global citizens to watch.
Personal opinion: The art is admired. Elegantly acting a one-person come-of-age perspective in a fragile taboo of the most sacred days of the Palestinian story.
Watching the movie by sheer masses would signal that this type of movie is in demand. Netflix would then produce more movies to communicate the Palestinian and Arab narrative of the Nakba and other chapters of the struggle. These movies become anchor points in the global consciousness and mainstream narrative. A one-well put movie can do what a thousand history books cannot.
Don't forget that in 2001, the U.S. branded us terrorists, unworthy, and incompetent. The storyline could have been that it has created extremists that turned on it on September 11. Instead of highlighting a U.S. foreign policy incompetence in keeping the U.S. safe, they dumbed it on 1.3 billion Muslims who did not even have the slightest clue that there was a beef between the US and their extremist group. Media and movies bought the narrative and fed it against our name for 20 years. I am sick of being branded as something I and my family fear as much as the next white guy; a terrorist. Wouldn't you? Dont you?
Today, as the West is busy hating on new groups, Russia and China, it is our opportunity to use the same mediums to rebrand our image by who we really are in a positive image. And rebranding requires movies and iconic events and stars. Hence, a world-recognized musician like Elyanna can redefine and enrich what the word Palestinian entails. If that doesn't impact the mind of a 60-year-old Iraq war veteran, it would impact the mind of his 16-year daughter that lives on youtube and breaths Tiktok and is excited to buy Elyanna's concert ticket. That girl would grow up questioning why Israel is oppressing the many "young Elyannas" that she loves. The youth of the world would wonder as well.
Ergo, our support is essential in promoting Elyannaand rising stars similar to her. Years ago, supporting an artist entailed spending your money and buying their album. With the democratization of art by the internet and social media, supporting an artist can be as simple as subscribing to their channel, following them on Twitter and Instagram, and TikTok, and listening to their albums continuously on Spotify. I argue, if you even remotely consider yourself part of the nations of Palestine, Arab or Muslim, you do the minimum to support your nation. It is free. When an artist's followers' numbers ramp up, public relations, marketing, and production companies take notice and sponsors take interest in channel
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