Social Semiotics of Arabic Satellite Television: Beyond the Glamour

Arabic satellite television is a phenomenon that has swept the Arab world in less than two decades and is said to have dramatically changed the Arab region. It has created a world of contrasts and contradictions between tradition and liberalism and a polarization of views and opinions, all vying for dominance and control. This book examines the social semiotics of Arabic satellite television and studies the multimodal representations of Arab social and cultural values and their implied meanings in a communication medium that heavily relies on imported western models.