Pyramids and Nightclubs

A Travel Ethnography of Arab and Western Imaginations of Egypt, from King Tut and a Colony of Atlantis to Rumors of Sex Orgies, Urban Legends about a Marauding Prince, and Blonde Belly Dancers

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology
Cover of the book Pyramids and Nightclubs by L. L. Wynn, University of Texas Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: L. L. Wynn ISBN: 9780292774094
Publisher: University of Texas Press Publication: January 1, 2010
Imprint: University of Texas Press Language: English
Author: L. L. Wynn
ISBN: 9780292774094
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Publication: January 1, 2010
Imprint: University of Texas Press
Language: English

Living in Egypt at the turn of the millennium, cultural anthropologist L. L. Wynn was struck by the juxtapositions of Western, Gulf Arab, and Egyptian viewpoints she encountered. For some, Egypt is the land of mummies and pharaohs. For others, it is a vortex of decadence, where nightlife promises a chance to salivate over belly dancers and maybe even glimpse a movie star. Offering a new approach to ethnography, Pyramids and Nightclubs examines cross-cultural encounters to bring to light the counterintuitive ways in which Egypt is defined.

Guiding readers on an armchair journey that introduces us to Russian and Australian belly dancers on Nile cruise ships, Egyptian rumors about an Arab prince and his royal entourage, Saudi girls looking for a less restrictive dating scene, and other visitors to this "antique" land, Wynn uses the lens of travel and tourism to depict a fascinating and often surprising version of Egypt, while exploring the concept of stereotype itself. Tracing the history of Western and Arab fascination with Egypt through spurious hunts for lost civilizations and the new economic disparities brought about by the oil industry, Pyramids and Nightclubs ultimately describes the ways in which moments of cultural contact, driven by tourism and labor migration, become eye-opening opportunities for defining self and other.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Living in Egypt at the turn of the millennium, cultural anthropologist L. L. Wynn was struck by the juxtapositions of Western, Gulf Arab, and Egyptian viewpoints she encountered. For some, Egypt is the land of mummies and pharaohs. For others, it is a vortex of decadence, where nightlife promises a chance to salivate over belly dancers and maybe even glimpse a movie star. Offering a new approach to ethnography, Pyramids and Nightclubs examines cross-cultural encounters to bring to light the counterintuitive ways in which Egypt is defined.

Guiding readers on an armchair journey that introduces us to Russian and Australian belly dancers on Nile cruise ships, Egyptian rumors about an Arab prince and his royal entourage, Saudi girls looking for a less restrictive dating scene, and other visitors to this "antique" land, Wynn uses the lens of travel and tourism to depict a fascinating and often surprising version of Egypt, while exploring the concept of stereotype itself. Tracing the history of Western and Arab fascination with Egypt through spurious hunts for lost civilizations and the new economic disparities brought about by the oil industry, Pyramids and Nightclubs ultimately describes the ways in which moments of cultural contact, driven by tourism and labor migration, become eye-opening opportunities for defining self and other.

More books from University of Texas Press

Cover of the book Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volume 5 by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book José Limón and La Malinche by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book The Writing of Elena Poniatowska by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book The Challenges to Democracy by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Creating Outdoor Classrooms by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Hispanic Immigrant Literature by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book The Codex Mexicanus by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book The Fifth Sun by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Spanish Verbs Made Simple(r) by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Blood in the Arena by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Pulltrouser Swamp by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Brazil and the Soviet Challenge, 1917–1947 by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Red State by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book The Jazz of the Southwest by L. L. Wynn
Cover of the book Species at Risk by L. L. Wynn
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy