Project Inspiration

This series, titled “LORE”, represents the struggle of living under and balancing Middle Eastern expectations and culture, especially in Western society. Having grown up for the majority of my life in the Arab world, and now living in a Western society, this theme of the misrepresentation of the Middle East is something I am very passionate about. Seeing my friends and family often facing degradation, racism, and censorship, just for simply looking Arab and speaking Arabic, ultimately reflects the misinterpretation much of the world still possesses of our culture. As I am only half Egyptian, I am unable to wholly relate to the discrimination my friends and family face but because of this, I am able to observe perspectives from other cultures on the Middle East as well. Often feeling like a witness rather than a participant of such misrepresentation, I created this project to highlight the presence and beauty (something I noticed that is often disacknowledged) of our culture. Through this series, I criticize the Western perspective of Middle Eastern culture by showcasing a struggle and an intense desire to maintain such traditions in a Western society, where one’s values may blur or feel out of place. The common stereotype by Western societies of the Middle East as terrorists and savages is unjust, inaccurate, and disregarding, in my opinion. The images respectively depict being tied to and tied down by loyal duty, morals, honor, traditions, and modesty - values that are highly upheld in Middle Eastern and Islamic culture.