The Poetics of Incivility

The Poetics of Incivility, Volume 1, examines how impolite modes of expression serve as tools for aesthetic innovation and sociopolitical critique. Author Emily Sibley investigates how satire, crude humor, and rudeness function within the Arab world, spanning from nineteenth-century literary debates to modern street art. This scholarly work explores how satirical cartoons, graffiti, and subversive poetry frame political demands in locations such as Cairo, Beirut, and Gaza. By analyzing these expressive forms, the text demonstrates how incivility acts as a vital resource for artists engaging with controversial social issues.

This volume of The Poetics of Incivility integrates history and criticism to trace an expressive culture that celebrates its own impropriety. Through case studies on colonial Egypt, women's education in Beirut, and digital poetry in Gaza, the book bridges sociology and cultural studies. It provides a rigorous analysis of how humor and satire intersect with politics and social sciences to challenge established norms.