Configurations of Islam in Contemporary Art in Norway: A Comparison of Ayad Akhtar’s Disgraced and Karpe’s Heisann Montebello

In this article, I explore how Islam is configured in two creative universes that have recently affected the cultural and political scene in Norway. I compare the enactment in Oslo (2019) of Disgraced by the American playwright Ayad Akhtar to parts of the artistic project Heisann Montebello (2015–20...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Zorgati, Ragnhild Johnsrud 1972- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2023
In: Journal of religion in Europe
Year: 2023, Volume: 16, Issue: 2, Pages: 199-228
Further subjects:B Rap
B Theater
B Islamophobia
B Islam in fiction
B Racism
B Ayad Akhtar
B Karpe
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:In this article, I explore how Islam is configured in two creative universes that have recently affected the cultural and political scene in Norway. I compare the enactment in Oslo (2019) of Disgraced by the American playwright Ayad Akhtar to parts of the artistic project Heisann Montebello (2015–2017) by the Norwegian rap duo Karpe. In both fictional universes, references to Islam, Muslims, xenophobia, racism, terror, and politics of integration are paramount. It is therefore significant that major cultural institutions in Norway such as The National Theater, the music hall Oslo Spektrum, the National Library, and the Norwegian Broadcasting Network (NRK) stage these works. Overall, my main argument is that both productions speak to wider audiences in a multireligious and multiethnic setting, demonstrating that Muslims and different configurations of Islam have become an integrated part of Norwegian cultural life.
ISSN:1874-8929
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion in Europe
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/18748929-bja10080