Mediating Resistance

Analyzing Rafeef Ziadah`s We Teach Life, Sir, Through Marshall McLuhan's Media Theory

Abstract

This study analyzes Rafeef Ziadah’s poem, We Teach Life, Sir (2011), via Marshall McLuhan's media theory, centering on his idea, "the medium is the message." It emphasizes the poem’s role in amplifying the Palestinians’ aboriginal oral narratives and digital dissemination as a means for advocacy in the face of the dominant media narrative.  Through her performance, Ziadah utilizes media to reveal these biases, creating an emotional experience that counters the dehumanizing tendencies found in traditional media. The study further delves into Ziadah’s efforts to reclaim Indigenous narratives by exposing Western media's selective storytelling surrounding the Palestinian experience. Implementing McLuhan's concepts of ‘hot and cold media,’ and “the medium is the message,” she transforms her poem into a decolonial medium that challenges Western representations of Palestinian identity. Additionally, Ziadah utilizes his notion of a ‘global village’ through her poem to foster an emotional connection with a global audience. The study further illustrates how the decolonial strategies within the poem interact with McLuhan’s theory, demonstrating that the choice of medium can be a significant political act. In doing so, her work contributes to broader efforts aiming to reshape political and social norms. The findings indicate that Ziadah’s performance confronts dominant epistemic narratives, engaging audiences in an interactive and emotionally charged experience that fosters collective resistance. This research enriches the understanding of the interplay between media, decoloniality, and activism while underscoring the enduring relevance of McLuhan's insights in contemporary cultural resistance.