Just thought I'd let everyone know about a great new book I've just started reading. The title is "Popular Egyptian Cinema," and the author is Viola Shafik. She's a professor at the American University in Cairo, and has published another book in the past called Arab Cinema.

She also wrote the chapter on Egyptian cinema for the Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. (If you don't want to spend the $240 to buy that book, her chapter can be found on the web at arabworld.nitle.org/texts.php .)

Anyway, back to talking about her new book, which was hot off the presses when I visited the AUC bookstore in Cairo in July.... You can buy the book on Amazon. It examines how the content of Egyptian movies has been shaped by changing develops in Egyptian society, economy, and politics, as well as by the export market. Although there is not a chapter on dance per se, she mentions dance quite frequently in the context of other topics such as feminism, "the male gaze", moral conservatism, etc. I find that I'm really enjoying her interpretation and analysis.

Eventually, I'll put a review of it on my web site. I haven't finished reading it yet, but I've read enough to know that I feel confident recommending it to folks who have an interest in Middle Eastern dance ethnology, dance as portrayed in Egyptian movies, and Golden Age dance stars.