Feminism and popular culture in the Lebanese series "Half Past Five": resistance vs complicity

• Published in: Feminist media studies Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 1243 - 1260
• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Hanan, Alkhawaja, Linda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 04.07.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Blocking; Complicity; Culture; Feminism; feminism- patriarchy; Khamesh w Nos; Lebanon; Patriarchy; Philanthropy; Pleasure; Popular culture; Ramadan; Ramadan television drama; resistance; Television; Television stations; Viewers; Women
• ISSN: 1468-0777; 1471-5902
• DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2021.1879196

Half-Past Five (Khamseh w Nos) (KN) is a Lebanese series that achieved a high viewership rate in the Arab world when premiered during Ramadan 2019 on widely watched Arabic television stations. Although KN focuses on a woman's (Bayan's) philanthropic work, achievements, and sufferings in a male-dominated space, we contend that the series still permeates with strong patriarchal tendencies. The lack of a collective feminist consciousness and the prevalence of the dominant patriarchal system cast a shadow over the status of Lebanese women in KN and in reality. Viewers empathise with Bayan as a human being victimised by unfortunate circumstances and a cruel husband. However, the narrative, plot, and filmic dynamics in KN divert viewers' attention from noting that Bayan's struggle is representative of Lebanese women's struggle under hegemonic patriarchy. We argue that KN is a product of popular culture that enhances the pleasure of the viewers while diluting women's rights issues and obstructing these issues from entry into the public agenda. We hold that informed feminist/humanist viewership can work against the emergence of a viewership indifferent to women's subjugation in KN.