When it comes to making sense of tumultuous recent events, most people are likely to seek answers in the arts rather than academia. In the case of the Arab Spring and the continuing turmoil it has caused much of this region, this process is just beginning.
As we reported yesterday, an early example of artistic interpretation of the Arab Spring is As I Open My Eyes, a film set in Tunisia shortly before the self-immolation of street trader Mohammed Bouazizi helped kick off the protests that overthrew Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Our writer described it as "arguably the best narrative film about the Arab Spring".
Forty years ago, the US underwent a similar process after the war in Vietnam, when filmmakers took their time before addressing the subject on the big screen. Since then, some of the most acclaimed American films have used the conflict as a subject. Is this film the sign of a similar dynamic in our region?
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
