Cairo’s Ultras: Resistance and Revolution in Egypt’s Football Culture | Ronnie Close, Cairo

The author and filmmaker Ronnie Close will discuss on his monograph book Cairo’s Ultras: Resistance and Revolution in Egypt’s Football Culture (2019).

His research work includes the documentary film, More Out of Curiosity (2014), a project over a three-year period with the Ultras groups in Cairo and his book explores how this radicalized football community intersected with the hopes of generation during the 2011 Revolution in Egypt. The book suggests such social movements as Cairo’s Ultras offer ways of belonging and meaning in everyday life. Close asks us to rethink the labels 'fans' or 'hooligans' and what such terms might really mean. He argues that the role of the body is essential to understanding the cultural practices of the Ultra groups, and that the physicality of the stadium rituals and chanting were key expressions that resonated with many Egyptians. The book skewers media clichés and retraces Egypt’s revolutionary politics to consider the capacity of sport to emancipate the fans through performances and aesthetic moments on the football terraces.

Lecture will consist of film extracts from his documentary More Out of Curiosity and followed by a Q&A.
Zusammenarbeit MFA-Studiengang «Public Art and New Artistic Strategies» (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar) und ACC.

Vortrag in englischer Sprache.

The event takes place in compliance with the 3G Plus rule, the number of participants is limited. Please inform yourself about any last-minute changes on the day of the event. //
Die Veranstaltung findet unter Einhaltung der 3G-Plus-Regel statt, die Teilnehmerzahl ist begrenzt. Bitte informieren Sie sich am Veranstaltungstag über eventuelle kurzfristige Änderungen.