Joëlle Chamieh - Narratives and transnational identity: a theoretical and empirical analysis deciphering the impact of Arab drama series on a transnational Arab identity – a Lebanese case study

Le Recteur de l'Université catholique de Louvain fait savoir que  

 Joëlle Chamieh  

soutiendra publiquement sa dissertation pour l'obtention du titre de Docteur en information et communication  

Narratives and transnational identity: a theoretical and empirical analysis deciphering the impact of Arab drama series on a transnational Arab identity – a Lebanese case study  

Résumé 
The basis of my research is built on the concept of Benedict Anderson’s “Imagined Communities” where media, through print capitalism, have shown an efficiency in the creation of European nations during the 18th century. In view of this concept, my search goes to the investigation of whether an imagined Arab community is possible through Arab transnational media.  
As a first step, the transnational Arab identity is modelled into a framework composed of multiple Arab values. These Arab values are deciphered through qualitative/quantitative content analysis of Arab drama series and then validated by a controlled sample of Arab viewers (focus group), where a clear conformity in the results of both methodologies seems apparent. On the basis of these results, the architecture of my survey is then rationalized through the production of three research questions. These research questions are further translated into four sets of research hypotheses. Accordingly, three correlations are implemented: the first, measuring the effect of Arab drama series consumption on the adherence/rejection of Arab values; the second, measuring whether the adherence/rejection of Arab values has an impact on the feeling of belongingness to a transnational Arab identity; and the third, measuring the direct impact of Arab drama series consumption on the feeling of belongingness to a transnational Arab identity.  
The results of the study seem quite interesting. Although no clear evidence of Arab drama series consumption appears to have an impact on the level of adherence/rejection of Arab values, yet, a potential validity of the Arab based value identity theoretical model (constructed specifically in this research) does prove to be existent and well identified.   
Membres du jury
Sarah Sepulchre (UCL), Promoteur  
Marc Lits ( (UCL), Président
Vincent Legrand (UCL)
Marie Vanoost (UCL), Secrétaire
Marion Dalibert (Université de Lille)