Practicing Art in Revolutionary Times

The article highlights the dialogue that took place in 2011–13 between the street and cyberspace and the government and the revolutionaries during the first wave of the Egyptian revolution. In this personal account of the Egyptian uprising, the author describes the unfolding political and social events and climate during the revolution, highlighting key factions at play and taking into account the reactions of protestors online and on the street. Examples of how the revolution was driven online by archival research, music videos, comedians, memes, graffiti, and symbols of martyrdom are paralleled with an account of the protests on the street and events that were unfolding at the time. Describing the environment of censorship and strategies used by the government to block dissent, the author provides stories of how different groups who were part of the revolution retaliated. The article can be considered a screen shot of a revolution that inspired the world but met an expected end.